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What gives the moon it's phases? 10 points?

I want to see how many people are really as confused as I expect.

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The moon's phases are a result of the rotation of the moon around the Earth. When the moon is between the Earth and the Sun, we can see only the shadow side of the moon and it appears to us as a new moon. As the moon travels around the Earth more and more of the lit surface of the moon becomes visible to us on the Earth... until it reaches a full moon when it is on the other side of the Earth. As the moon travels around the other side of the Earth (with respect to the Sun), less and less of the lit surface is visible. This all happens in about 27-28 days (new moon to new moon). It should be noted that when I speak about the positioning of the sun, earth and moon in a line, it's not necessarily lined up like an eclipse would be (when they are in direct alignment making shadows on each other). I am speaking only of their relative positions.

    Source(s): I teach hands-on science... have a great demo for this!
  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    The Moon is a sphere which travels once around the Earth every 29 days. As it does so, it is illuminated from varying angles by the Sun. At New Moon, the Moon is between the Earth and Sun, so that the side of the Moon facing towards us receives no direct sunlight, and is only lit by dim sunlight reflected from the Earth. As it moves around the Earth, the side we can see gradually becomes more illuminated by direct sunlight.

    After a week, the Moon is 90° away from the Sun in the sky and is half illuminated, what we call First Quarter because it is about a quarter of the way around the Earth.

    A week after this, the Moon is 180° away from the Sun, so that Sun, Earth and Moon form a line. The Moon is fully illuminated by the Sun, so this is called Full Moon. The Earth's shadow points towards the Moon at this time, but usually the Moon passes above or below the shadow and no eclipse occurs.

    A week later the Moon has moved another quarter of the way around the Earth, to the Third Quarter position. The Sun's light is now shining on the other half of the visible face of the Moon.

    Finally, a week later, the Moon is back to its New Moon starting position. Usually it passes above or below the Sun, but occasionally it passes right in front of the Sun, and we get an eclipse of the Sun.

    The Moon's phases are NOT caused by the shadow of the Earth falling on the Moon. In fact the shadow of the Earth only falls on the Moon twice a year when there is a lunar eclipse.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    Q1) what's the line the place the moon is getting illuminated A1) The terminator Q2) Why does the moon present basically one face to Earth? A2) because of the fact its rotation era on its axis is comparable to that of its revolution around the earth - i.e. around 28 days Q3) whilst moon is fading away what's it spoke of as A3) Waning this autumn) whilst moon is turning out to be greater illuminated what's it spoke of as A4) Waxing

  • 1 decade ago

    I'm going to assume your referring to the moon having a off center core.

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  • 1 decade ago

    because the earth spins on an axis.

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