NATS 1740 Assignment Sun, Earth and Moon System This assignment requires that you print this file that you answer on the last 2 printed sheets. Staple those 2 sheets together and bring them to class on 26 February. READ CAREFULLY the description of this work. Remember that Earth orbits around the Sun and Moon orbits around the Earth. The other motion that we are going to consider is the Earth’s spin around its axis. A good idea is to view again the video "Why does the moon change shape? “ The Earth and the Sun: Daily (Diurnal) Motion Pretend your head is the Earth, and your eyes are you looking up into the sky from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. Imagine a bright light in the front of the room to represent the Sun. To represent the Earth spinning on its axis, stand up and turn around COUNTER-CLOCKWISE (as seen from above). As you turn, the time of day at the location of your eyes changes. One complete turn of your head (360 degrees) represents 24 hours. Although the exact rising and setting times (and thus the duration of the day) depend on the time of the year and on the location on Earth, for this assignment we consider the day equally divided by sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight. Now you can answer question 1, remember that here you are studying the Earth’s daily (24 hours) motion, so that the position of Earth with respect to the Sun can be considered fixed. 1. On your assignment answer sheet, make four simple drawings of the Earth and the light rays from the Sun, clearly showing your location on Earth at sunrise, sunset, noon and midnight. The viewpoint for all drawings should be looking down on the Earth from far above the North Pole. Show the direction in which the Earth is spinning. (Note: in this and following questions some marks will be deducted if the arrows are missing). The Motion and Phases of the Moon Now pretend that you have a tennis ball next to your head representing the Moon (Your head and the tennis ball are the same relative size as the Earth and the Moon). We are going to recreate the phases of the Moon (its changing appearance with time) as seen from Earth. When the Moon’s phase is full, its entire surface as seen from the Earth is lit by the Sun. 2. Sketch the relative positions of the Earth, Moon and the Sun rays when the Moon is full. The moon orbits the Earth in the same direction that the Earth spins (see question 1); indicate this direction with an arrow. In a second sketch show the position of Earth, Moon and the Sun rays when it is a new Moon (when none of its surface as seen from the Earth is lit up by the Sun). 3. About what time is it for you when the full Moon is highest in the sky ? For question 3, turn around as you have done in question 1 and find out what time is it for you when the full Moon is highest in the sky (when you are looking at the tennis ball straight ahead). 4. Now turn yourself counterclockwise until the tennis ball is just about to disappear from view; that is, when the Mo.

1. NATS 1740 Assignment
Sun, Earth and Moon System
This assignment requires that you print this file that you answer
on the last 2 printed sheets. Staple those 2 sheets together and
bring them to class on 26 February.
READ CAREFULLY the description of this work. Remember
that Earth orbits around the Sun and Moon orbits around the
Earth. The other motion that we are going to consider is the
Earth’s spin around its axis. A good idea is to view again the
video "Why does the moon change shape? “
The Earth and the Sun: Daily (Diurnal) Motion
Pretend your head is the Earth, and your eyes are you looking
up into the sky from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. Imagine a
bright light in the front of the room to represent the Sun. To
represent the Earth spinning on its axis, stand up and turn
around COUNTER-CLOCKWISE (as seen from above). As you
turn, the time of day at the location of your eyes changes. One
complete turn of your head (360 degrees) represents 24 hours.
Although the exact rising and setting times (and thus the
duration of the day) depend on the time of the year and on the
location on Earth, for this assignment we consider the day
equally divided by sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight.
Now you can answer question 1, remember that here you are
studying the Earth’s daily (24 hours) motion, so that the
position of Earth with respect to the Sun can be considered
fixed.
1. On your assignment answer sheet, make four simple drawings
of the Earth and the light rays from the Sun, clearly showing
your location on Earth at sunrise, sunset, noon and midnight.

2. The viewpoint for all drawings should be looking down on the
Earth from far above the North Pole. Show the direction in
which the Earth is spinning. (Note: in this and following
questions some marks will be deducted if the arrows are
missing).
The Motion and Phases of the Moon
Now pretend that you have a tennis ball next to your head
representing the Moon (Your head and the tennis ball are the
same relative size as the Earth and the Moon). We are going to
recreate the phases of the Moon (its changing appearance with
time) as seen from Earth. When the Moon’s phase is full, its
entire surface as seen from the Earth is lit by the Sun.
2. Sketch the relative positions of the Earth, Moon and the Sun
rays when the Moon is full. The moon orbits the Earth in the
same direction that the Earth spins (see question 1); indicate
this direction with an arrow. In a second sketch show the
position of Earth, Moon and the Sun rays when it is a new Moon
(when none of its surface as seen from the Earth is lit up by the
Sun).
3. About what time is it for you when the full Moon is highest
in the sky ? For question 3, turn around as you have done in
question 1 and find out what time is it for you when the full
Moon is highest in the sky (when you are looking at the tennis
ball straight ahead).
4. Now turn yourself counterclockwise until the tennis ball is
just about to disappear from view; that is, when the Moon is
about to set. Based on where the light representing the Sun is
located when this happens, about what time is it for you when
the full Moon sets?
Third quarter Moon is halfway through Moon’s change from full
Moon back to new Moon.
Imagine that you move the tennis ball so that the Moon is at

3. third quarter and hold it in that position. Answer question 5 (do
not forget the arrows that show the direction in which the Earth
is spinning and the Moon orbiting and the Sun rays) and
question 6.
Nowhold the Moon in the same place. Turn yourself
counterclockwise until you can just see the ball representing the
Moon and answer question 7. As before, use the position of the
Sun to find out what time is it for you when the Third Quarter
Moon sets.
Eclipses
As seen from the Earth:
Lunar eclipse (eclipse of the Moon): occurs when the shadow of
the Earth falls on the Moon.
Solar eclipse (eclipse of the Sun) occurs when the shadow of the
Moon falls on the Earth.
8. What is the phase of the Moon when there is a lunar eclipse ?
(full, new ? )
9. Can you see a lunar eclipse during the daytime? How
about at sunset or sunrise ?
As seen from the Earth, an eclipse of the Sun (a solar
eclipse) occurs when the shadow of the Moon falls on the Earth.
Orient your head and the tennis ball so that the shadow of the
tennis ball (the Moon) falls on the Earth (your head).
10. What is the phase of the Moon (full, new ?) when there is a
solar eclipse ?
11. Can you see a solar eclipse during the nighttime ? How

4. about at sunset or sunrise ?
The Earth - Moon System: Scale Model
A scale model is smaller or larger than the real thing, but has
the same proportions.
The radius of the Earth (half its diameter) is REarth = 6.37 x
103 km and the radius of the Moon is RMoon = 1.74 x 103 km.
This ratio, 3.66:1, is about the same as the ratio of the radius of
your head to a tennis ball. But how far away from your head
would the tennis ball have to be to produce an accurate scale
model of the Earth-Moon system? (A scale model is smaller or
larger than the real thing, but has the same proportions.)
12: The Moon is located about 3.84 x 105 km from the Earth.
How many Moon diameters (diameter=2*radius)is this distance
? So how many moon diameters away from the Earth is the
Moon ?
13: If the tennis ball has a diameter of 3.5 cm, how far away
from your head would it be in a scale model of the Earth-Moon
system? Would it fit in the classroom you’re in ? In question 12
you obtained how many Moons you need to put together to
cover the distance between Moon and Earth and now, you
assume that your Moon has a diameter of 3.5 cm.
Answers: Name:
_____________________________________
Student Number:
_____________________________
1. Drawings of the Earth, the Sun’s rays, & you at
midnight, sunrise, noon and sunset. (4 marks)
2. Relative locations of Sun, Earth and Moon when the Moon
is full, and when it is new: (3 marks)

5. 3. Time of day when full Moon is highest in the sky:
__________am/pm (circle one) (1 mark)
4. Time of day when full Moon sets: __________am/pm (circle
one) (1 mark)
5. Relative locations of Sun, Earth and Moon when the Moon is
at 3rd quarter phase: (2 marks)
6.Time when 3rd quarter moon is highest in the sky:
__________am/pm (circle one) (1 mark)
7.Time of day when 3rd quarter moon sets: __________am/pm
(circle one) (1 mark)
8.Phase of the Moon for a lunar eclipse. Circle correct phase:
full / new (0.5 mark)
9.Can you see a lunar eclipse during the daytime? At sunset or
sunrise? (1 mark)
10.Phase of the Moon for a solar eclipse. Circle correct phase:
full / new (0.5 mark)
11.Can you see a solar eclipse during the nighttime? At sunset
or sunrise? (1 mark)
12.Earth-Moon distance in units of Moon diameters: (2.5 marks)
13.Distance of the tennis-ball Moon from your head in an
accurate scale model: (1.5 marks)
Assignment: Critical Book Review
Format: APA (American Psychological Association)
Length: 4-5 pages (Content)
Point Value: 75pts (each book)
Your assignment is to write Critical Book Review of A
Magnificent Catastrophe by Edward J. Larson. NOTE: A
Critical Book Review is more than a book report, but is a
chance for you to give your reaction to the work and author.
· You do not need to provide an Abstract or author’s note.
· The title page and reference page do not count as part of the 4-
5 pages of content.
· You do need to provide a reference page even if your only

6. reference is the assigned book itself.
· Do not use the online encyclopedia Wikipedia as a source.
· You must have a title page (Do not put pictures, charts,
graphs, etc. on the title page. Simply follow APA 6th Edition
format.
· Do not use an overabundance of quotes in your paper. I want
to read your writing not another author’s.
· Watch paragraph length. A paragraph shouldn’t go on for 2
pages or more.
· Do not overuse commas…if in doubt…leave it out.
Consider the following in writing your critical book review:
· What are the positive and negative aspects of the book?
· Does it cover the issue adequately?
· Does it cover a historical or contemporary view?
· What would you like to see added to the book or taken out?
· How well does the book add to your knowledge of our
American system of politics?
· Would you recommend the book(s) to others? Why or Why
not?
You have to add to the above list and come up with some of
your own unique critics of the book and author.