Moon Phases Amplify

These two observations are several days apart. The light part of the Moon appeared to get larger over time. Why did this happen?

• Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved so that you can see more of the half that faces the sun.

• Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved closer to the sun so more sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.

• Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon rotated so that more of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.

• Between the first observation and the second observation, Earth moved so its shadow was blocking less of the Moon so you can see more of it.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagrams above show Earth and the Moon in different positions, as seen from above (top view). Sunlight is coming from the left, but these diagrams do not show what parts of Earth or the Moon are light or dark. Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?

• No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.

• Yes, always in Diagram 1 and sometimes in Diagram 2.

• Yes, always in Diagrams 1 and 2, but never in Diagram 3.

• Yes, always in Diagram 1, but never in Diagrams 2 or 3.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagrams above show Earth and the Moon in different positions, as seen from above (top view). Sunlight is coming from the left, but these diagrams do not show what parts of Earth or the Moon are light or dark. Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?

• No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.

• Yes, always in Diagrams 2 and 3, but never in Diagram 1.

• Yes, always in Diagram 2 but never in Diagrams 1 or 3.

• Yes, always in Diagram 2 and sometimes in Diagram 3.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Deshawn made two diagrams to show the Moon in the same position at different times of the year. In his diagrams, he included views from above (top view) and views from Earth. He says that some of the time the Moon looks bright from Earth, as shown in Diagram A, but other times the Moon looks completely dark from Earth, as shown in Diagram B. Is Deshawn correct? If he is correct, explain why light on the Moon changes in this way. If he is incorrect, explain how light on the Moon should look in each of his diagrams.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Susan made this diagram of the Moon and Earth, as seen from above (top view), with sunlight coming from the left. Why does her diagram show that it’s bright on the left half of the Moon?

• Because as the Moon gets closer to the sun, more of it is lit by the sun, so

  Susan’s diagram is showing sunlight on half of the Moon.

• Because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and Susan’s diagram is showing that the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock has rotated to the left.

• Because there is a shadow from Earth falling on half of the Moon, and

  Susan’s diagram is showing that shadow on the right half of the Moon.

• Because Susan’s diagram is showing that the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

7. These diagrams show what some students think the Moon looks like when it is seen from above. The sunlight is coming from the left. Which diagram is accurate and why?

• Diagram A is accurate because sometimes the whole Moon is dark if shadows are covering it.

• Diagram B is accurate because the Moon is as close as it can be to the sun,

  and so all of the Moon is lit by the sun.

• Diagram C is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is

  lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Ciara believes that whenever the Moon is in the position that is shown from above (top view) in Diagram A, the Moon always looks completely dark in the view from Earth, as shown in Diagram B. Is Ciara correct? If she is correct, explain why the Moon always looks dark from Earth in that position, and explain how she should show light on the Moon in Diagram A. If she is incorrect, explain how else the Moon can look when it is in that position.

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The diagrams do not show what parts are light or dark. Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?

• No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.

• Yes, always in Diagram 1 and sometimes in Diagram 3.

• Yes, always in Diagrams 1 and 3, but never in Diagram 2.

• Yes, always in Diagram 1, but never in Diagrams 2 or 3.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagrams do not show what parts are light or dark. Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?

• No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.

• Yes, always in Diagrams 1 and 3, but never in Diagram 2.

• Yes, always in Diagram 3 and sometimes in Diagram 1.

• Yes, always in Diagram 3, but never in Diagrams 1 or 2.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagrams show what the Moon looks like when it is seen from above. The sunlight is coming from the left. Which diagram is accurate and why?

• Diagram A is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• Diagram B is accurate because the whole Moon is bright as long as there are no shadows covering parts of it.

• Diagram C is accurate because the Moon is almost as far as it can be from the sun, and so almost none of the Moon is lit by the sun.

• All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1