Moon Gazing PREFLIGHT

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The following three questions refer to the material you were to read in preparation for the lesson.

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Moon Phases


Java Applet: Requires a Browser that can run applets


The phases of the moon can be observed with the aid of the java applet. After playing with the applet, please answer the following question: If it is a quarter moon phase in Alabama, what sort of moon phase is seen the same night in Beijing?




honors extra

Many things conspire to make a day appear longer (school, administrators, hangnails...), but there are some things that really do make the earth turn slower. The sloshing of the tides is friction that slows the turning of the earth. Astronomers have been able to calculate just how many seconds or minutes the earth has slowed down over the past 3000 years, which is one part in 1011! How could astronomers do this without atomic clocks available in 1000 BC, or even without Timex watches (which are only good to about 1 part in 105)?





Below is a space for your thoughts, including general comments about today's assignment (what seemed impossible, what reading didn't make sense, what we should spend class time on, what was "cool", etc.):




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I received no help from anyone on this assignment.