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Phases of Moon Model Documents

This material has 10 associated documents. Select a document title to view a document's information.

Main Document

Phases of Moon Model 

written by Todd Timberlake

The EJS Phases of Moon model displays the appearance of Moon and how it changes depending on the position of Moon relative to Earth and Sun. The main window shows Earth (at the center) and Moon, as well as 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.  By using the Options Menu the Moon View window shows the appearance of Moon as seen from Earth  when Moon is in the position shown in the main window.  You can modify this simulation if you have Ejs installed by right-clicking within the plot and selecting "Open Ejs Model" from the pop-up menu item.

The EJS Phases of Moon model includes three supplemental documents (see below) that include a middle school lesson plan, a college level worksheet, and the student version of the program.

EJS Phases of Moon model was created using the Easy Java Simulations  (Ejs) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.   Double clicking the ejs_astronomy_MoonPhases.jar file will run the program if  Java is installed.  Ejs is a part of the Open Source Physics Project and is designed  to make it easier to access, modify, and generate computer models.  Additional Ejs  models for astronomy are available.  They can be found by searching ComPADRE for  Open Source Physics, OSP, or Ejs.

Last Modified June 11, 2014

This file has previous versions.

Supplemental Documents (7)

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.

Last Modified July 23, 2012

This file has previous versions.

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.

Published October 12, 2009
Last Modified July 12, 2012

This file has 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.

Published October 12, 2009
Last Modified July 12, 2012

This file is included in the full-text index.
This file has previous versions.

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 ejs_MoonPhasesMiddleSchoolStudent.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Published July 12, 2012
Last Modified July 12, 2012

This file is included in the full-text index.

Phases of Moon Model: Lesson Plan 

A pdf file with a teacher lesson plan for use with the Phases of Moon: Middle School Model.

Published October 12, 2009
Last Modified July 12, 2012

This file is included in the full-text index.
This file has previous versions.

Internationalized Moon Phases Model 

Internationalized Moon Phases Model with Spanish and Portuguese documentation.

Last Modified January 21, 2012

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.

Released under a original simulation by Todd Timberlake; additional material by Lookang Lawrence Wee.

Published February 16, 2012
Last Modified February 16, 2012

This file is included in the full-text index.

Source Code Documents (2)

Phases of Moon Model Source Code 

The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Ejs Phases of Moon Model.   Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.

Published July 31, 2009
Last Modified June 11, 2014

This file has previous versions.

Moon Phases for Teachers Source Code 

Source Code for the Moon Phases Model for Teachers. The source code archive contains an XML representation of the EJS model. Unzip this archive in your EJS Workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.

Last Modified July 23, 2012

This file has previous versions.