Phases of Moon Model

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written by Todd Timberlake

This interactive simulation allows students to explore how the relative position of Sun, Earth, and Moon produce the various phases of the moon, as seen from the Earth. The main window displays Earth (at the center) and Moon, with a circle tracing out Moon's orbit. Sun is far to the right in this picture and therefore the right side of Earth and Moon are bright while the left sides are dark. As the simulation runs, a separate "Moon View" window shows progressive photos of the appearance of the Moon as seen from Earth.

Editor's Note: Don't miss the supplementary lesson plan, student guide, and homework problems. The author has cohesively integrated a hands-on investigation with the simulation. Together, these resources will promote understanding of a process that is often difficult for adolescents to grasp. SEE SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS below for links.

This item was created with Easy Java Simulations (EJS), a modeling tool that allows users without formal programming experience to generate computer models and simulations. To run the simulation, simply click the Java Archive file below. To modify or customize the model, See Related Materials for detailed instructions on installing and running the EJS Modeling and Authoring Tool.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).

.jar

download 1305kb .jar
Last Modified: June 11, 2014
previous versions

7 supplemental documents are available

.jar

Moon Phases Model for Teachers
A customizable Moon Phases Model that allows teachers to set the display parameters. The customized simulation is automatically saved with associated curricular in a new jar file that can be redistributed.
download 1250kb .jar
Last Modified: July 23, 2012
previous versions

.jar

Phases of Moon Model: Student Version
EJS Phases of Moon Model: Student Version is a simulation for college students. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive and has the exploration pdf built-in. Double clicking the ejs_MoonPhasesStudent.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.
download 1444kb .jar
Published: October 12, 2009
previous versions

Phases of Moon Model: Homework Exploration
A pdf file with a college-level homework exploration for use with the Phases of Moon: Student Model.
download 206kb .pdf
Published: October 12, 2009

.jar

Phases of the Moon Model: Middle School Version
EJS Phases of Moon Model: Middle School Version is a simulation for middle school and high school students. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive and has the exploration/lesson plan pdf built-in. Double clicking the …
download 1576kb .jar
Published: July 12, 2012

Phases of Moon Model: Lesson Plan
A pdf file with a teacher lesson plan for use with the Phases of Moon: Middle School Model.
download 138kb .pdf
Published: October 12, 2009
previous versions

.jar

Internationalized Moon Phases Model
Internationalized Moon Phases Model with Spanish and Portuguese documentation.
download 1196kb .jar
Last Modified: January 21, 2012

.jar

Moon Phase Answer Simulation by Lookang Lawrence Wee
This simulation helps provide context for the answers to the moon phase exploration assignments. The simulation adds a local time grid as well as showing the current view of the Moon an observer would see if it is above the observer's horizon.
download 1998kb .jar
Published: February 16, 2012
Rights: original simulation by Todd Timberlake; additional material by Lookang Lawrence Wee.

2 source code documents are available

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Astronomy - Astronomy Education = Curricula - Fundamentals = Lunar Phases - Solar System = The Moon	- Middle School - High School - Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation - Audio/Visual = Image/Image Set

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics	- Lesson Plan - Activity - Assessment - New teachers	Currently 5.0/5 Rated 5.0 stars by 3 people Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Educator
Learner
General Public
Format:: application/java
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2009 Todd Timberlake
Keywords:: EJS, Easy Java Simulations, OSP, Open Source Physics, astronomy simulation, lunar, lunar phases, moon, moon phase simulation, phase
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created July 31, 2009 by Mario Belloni
Record Updated:: June 11, 2014 by Andreu Glasmann
Last Update when Cataloged:: July 31, 2009
Other Collections:: The Physics To Go

The Astronomy Center

The Open Source Physics

Nice

Author: Ahmedelshfie
Posted: March 17, 2011 at 7:26AM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

Nice applet, thanks for share.

» reply

Earth sceince resource

Author: Nina Daye
Posted: October 23, 2010 at 3:12PM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

Wonderful simulation for earth science too!

» reply

the lesson design is fantastic!

Author: lookang
Posted: August 16, 2010 at 10:51PM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

I. ENGAGEMENT
i especially liked the tennis ball and torchlight to situated the learning to a real world example, a lot of teachers will benefit from this kind of insightful lesson strategy, instead rushing into the powerpoint and talk and talk.

great lesson package!

» reply

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4A. The Universe

K-2: 4A/P2. The sun can be seen only in the daytime, but the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day. The sun, moon, and stars all appear to move slowly across the sky.
K-2: 4A/P3. The moon looks a little different every day but looks the same again about every four weeks.

4B. The Earth

6-8: 4B/M5. The moon's orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes what part of the moon is lighted by the sun and how much of that part can be seen from the earth- the phases of the moon.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

6-8: 11B/M1. Models are often used to think about processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small a scale to observe directly. They are also used for processes that are too vast, too complex, or too dangerous to study.

NSES Content Standards

Con.D: Earth & Space Science

K-4: Objects in the Sky
K-4: Changes in Earth & Sky

NSES Professional Development Standards

PD.A: Learn Science Content through Inquiry

Active Investigation: Involve teachers in actively investigating phenomena that can be studied scientifically, interpreting results, and making sense of findings consistent with currently accepted scientific understanding.

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=9308">Timberlake, Todd. "Phases of Moon Model." Version 1.0.</a>

AIP Format

T. Timberlake, Computer Program PHASES OF MOON MODEL, Version 1.0 (2009), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247).

AJP/PRST-PER

T. Timberlake, Computer Program PHASES OF MOON MODEL, Version 1.0 (2009), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247>.

APA Format

Timberlake, T. (2009). Phases of Moon Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247

Chicago Format

Timberlake, Todd. "Phases of Moon Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247 (accessed 2 December 2024).

MLA Format

Timberlake, Todd. Phases of Moon Model. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2009. Java (JRE) 1.5. 2 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Todd Timberlake", Title = {Phases of Moon Model}, Month = {July}, Year = {2009} }

Refer Export Format

%A Todd Timberlake %T Phases of Moon Model %D July 31, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Timberlake, Todd %D July 31, 2009 %T Phases of Moon Model %7 1.0 %8 July 31, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247

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Phases of Moon Model:

Is Based On Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool

The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the EJS Phases of the Moon Model.

relation by Mario Belloni

Covers the Same Topic As ASPIRE: Lunar Phases

This is an inquiry-based tutorial for grades 6-9 on the topic of moon phases. Students work with partially-competed diagrams to understand how the Earth's rotation, moon's orbit around Earth, and reflected sunlight all come together to produce a "changing" moon.

relation by Caroline Hall

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