Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Lunar Video: A Private Universe

Today in class I watched a video called "A Private Universe" produced by the Harvard-Simithsonian Center for Astrophysics made in 1987.  It was about students, alumni, and faculty beliefs about science.  I thought it was amazing and true how students, like myself, had trouble answering the questions or did not know the full reason to the questions being asked. 

First question: The reasons for the seasons are for the earth's different rotations and far away we are from the Sun. The answer I have written is not right.

  • The correct answer for the reason seasons occur is when the Earth spins on its axis it spins in a elliptical manner.  Summer occurs when the Earth's axis is tilted towards the Sun.  Winter occurs when the Earth's axis is titlted away from the sun.  And for the other seasons like Spring and Fall the Earth's axis will be pointed 90 degrees from the Sun, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville KY. 

Another question asked was: What is the reason for the phases of the moon?

The reason for the phases of the moon is for the gravitational tilt of Earth's axis and how the Sun is lined up to the Earth and moon.  The Sun will illuminate the moon.My answer is incorrect, and I am drawing a blank.  Under Pressure~.
 


  • The real reason for the moon's different phases is from Earth's moon orbiting the earth and reflects sunlight from the Sun. 
moon phases diagram

Here is a fun song to teach about the moon's phases to elementary students!This song is educational, fun, and very catchy!

1 comment:

  1. This is great! I don't want to sound nitpicky but you say, "The correct answer for the reason seasons occur is when the Earth spins on its axis it spins in a elliptical manner. " it should say "The correct answer for the reason seasons occur is when the Earth spins or rotates on its axis it revolves around the sun in a elliptical manner."

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