Learning LogWrite down the names of as many songs as you can think of with the word “moon” in them. Write down any themes that you see between them.

Essential Question

How do the Sun and Moon affect us here on Earth?

The Sun-Earth-Moon System

How does the moon affect us here?

• lunar phases - Sequential changes in the appearance of the Moon.

• The movement of the moon around earth and our changing viewpoint on Earth relative to the Sun.

• The moon does not emit visible light. We see the Moon’s reflection of Sun’s light.

Lunar Phases• As the Moon moves along

in its orbit, the amount of reflected sunlight that we can see changes.

• Waxing- the increase in the portion of the sunlit side of the Moon we see.

• Waning - The decrease in the sunlit side of the moon.

• Lunar Month - length of time it takes for the Moon to go through a complete cycle of phases– Ex. New moon to new moon– Length of lunar month is 29.5 days – The moon’s orbit around earth takes 27.3 days

What is a lunar month?

What is the moon’s effect on Earth’s tides?• The Moon’s gravity pulls

on Earth creating a bulge in ocean water on both the near and far sides of Earth

• Earth’s rotation also causes the formation of tides.

Tidal Forces on Earth

Spring Tides- higher than normal

tides that occur when the Sun, the Moon and Earth are aligned.– Full or New Moon– Especially high when

the Moon is nearest the Earth and Earth is nearest the Sun

Neap Tides - lower than normal tides

that occur when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth form a right angle.

• the tides are– 1st and 3rd Quarter

Spring and Neap tides alternate every two weeks.

Why is the Earth largest around the equator?Equatorial bulge- due to centrifugal force from

the rotation of the Earth

With your neighbor complete the moon tides activity

• Describe the tidal impact due to the gravitational interactions between the earth-moon- sun.

Homework – Summarize today’s notes and write the appropriate questions in the question column.