Chapter 1: Problem 15
Explain why the Moon exhibits phases.
Short Answer
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Question: Explain why the Moon exhibits phases and describe the key aspects of the Earth-Moon-Sun system that result in its different phases.
Answer: The Moon exhibits phases due to its position relative to the Earth and the Sun in the Earth-Moon-Sun system and the reflection of sunlight on its surface. As the Moon orbits Earth, the illuminated part of the Moon that faces Earth changes, resulting in the different phases. The eight main phases are New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. These phases result from the changing angles between the Earth, Moon, and Sun as the Moon orbits Earth.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.