Lunar Eclipses

Front

Lunar Eclipse Noun

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[loo-ner ee-klips]

Back

Lunar Eclipse

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An event where Earth passes between the sun and Moon, and Earth's shadow obscures the Moon or a portion of it.

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Example: This diagram shows how a lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on the Moon.

Front

Solar Eclipse Noun

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[soh-ler ee-klips]

Back

Solar Eclipse

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An event where the Moon passes between the sun and Earth, fully or partially blocking the sun's light from view.

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Example: This diagram shows how the Moon, passing between the Sun and Earth, casts a shadow on Earth, which is what we see as a solar eclipse.

Front

Orbit Noun

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[or-bit]

Back

Orbit

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The curved path an object, such as a planet or satellite, takes around another object in space due to gravity.

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Example: This diagram shows the Moon's curved path, or orbit, around the Earth, which is caused by the pull of Earth's gravity.

Front

Spin Axis Noun

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[spin ak-sis]

Back

Spin Axis

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An imaginary line passing through the center of a celestial body around which it rotates or spins on itself.

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Example: This image shows Earth's spin axis as an imaginary tilted line it rotates around, which causes the difference between the sunlit day and shadowed night.

Front

Apparent Motion Noun

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[uh-pair-ent moh-shun]

Back

Apparent Motion

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The perceived movement of an object from an observer's viewpoint, which may differ from its actual motion in space.

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Example: This image shows the physics of an object in circular motion. It does not illustrate apparent motion, which requires showing an observer's differing viewpoint.

Front

Moon Phase Noun

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[moon fayz]

Back

Moon Phase

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The shape of the sunlit portion of the Moon as seen from Earth, changing cyclically as the Moon orbits Earth.

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Example: This diagram shows the different shapes of the Moon we see from Earth, called phases, which occur in a repeating cycle.

Front

Model Noun

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[mod-l]

Back

Model

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A representation of a system, idea, or object used to explain and predict phenomena that cannot be experienced directly.

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Example: This diagram is a model of the Earth-Moon system, showing how gravity and velocity interact to keep the Moon in orbit around Earth.

Front

Scale Noun

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[skayl]

Back

Scale

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The ratio between the size of a model and the actual size of the object it represents, used for large systems.

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Example: This image incorrectly shows a balance for weighing objects, which is a different meaning of 'scale' and does not illustrate the concept of a size ratio.

Front

Pattern Noun

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[pat-ern]

Back

Pattern

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A repeating or recurring sequence of events or objects that can be observed and used to make scientific predictions.

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Example: In a salt crystal, sodium and chloride atoms are arranged in a specific, repeating 3D structure, which is a type of scientific pattern.

Front

Scientific Argument Noun

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[sy-en-tif-ik ar-gyoo-ment]

Back

Scientific Argument

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A logical process using a claim supported by evidence and connected by reasoning to explain a scientific phenomenon or observation.

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Example: This image shows the parts of a chemical equation, which is a different concept from a scientific argument that uses claims, evidence, and reasoning.