Why does the moon change its shape every night?a)It is natural for moo...
- Moon doesn't change its shape.
- The part of the moon on which the shadow of the Earth falls, remains away from the sunlight and thus it doesn't appear at all.
- As the Earth, the Sun and the Moon constantly revolve, the part of the Moon away from the sunlight increases or decreases.
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Why does the moon change its shape every night?a)It is natural for moo...
The correct answer is option 'C': It only appears that the moon is changing shape.
Explanation:
The moon does not actually change its shape. It appears to change its shape because of the way sunlight falls on it and the position of the moon in relation to the Earth and the Sun. This changing appearance of the moon is called its phases.
The Moon's Phases:
The moon goes through different phases as it orbits around the Earth. These phases are:
1. New Moon: During this phase, the moon is not visible from Earth because the side of the moon facing us is not lit by the Sun.
2. Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of the moon becomes visible on the right side.
3. First Quarter: The right half of the moon is visible.
4. Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the moon is visible, but it is not yet a full moon.
5. Full Moon: The entire face of the moon is visible from Earth.
6. Waning Gibbous: More than half of the moon is visible, but it is starting to decrease in size.
7. Third Quarter: The left half of the moon is visible.
8. Waning Crescent: A small sliver of the moon becomes visible on the left side.
9. New Moon: The moon is not visible again as it starts a new cycle.
Reasons for Changing Phases:
The moon's changing phases are caused by its position in relation to the Earth and the Sun.
- The moon orbits around the Earth, and as it moves, the amount of sunlight falling on it changes. This causes the moon to appear to change shape.
- During a full moon, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, so the entire face of the moon is illuminated.
- During a new moon, the moon is between the Earth and the Sun, so the side of the moon facing us is not lit by the Sun, making it appear invisible.
- The different phases of the moon occur as the moon's position changes in relation to the Earth and the Sun.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the moon does not actually change its shape. The changing appearance of the moon is due to the varying amount of sunlight it receives and its position in relation to the Earth and the Sun. The moon's phases are a natural phenomenon that can be observed from Earth.