1. Cycles Moon Phases, Tides, Seasons
Study Guide

2. New moon Waxing Crescent 1st quarter Waxing Gibbous Full moon
1. Draw and label the eight phases of the moon as they appear from Earth, in order, starting with new moon.
New moon
Waxing Crescent
1st quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full moon
Waning Gibbous
3rd quarter
Waning Crescent

3. 2. Draw and label a diagram of the lunar phases with the earth, sun and moon in correct positions
First Quarter
Waxing
Gibbous
Waxing Crescent
Sun
Earth
Full
New
Waning
Gibbous
Waning
Crescent
Third Quarter

4. Waxing: getting bigger Waning: getting smaller Gibbous: almost full
3. Define the following words: waxing, waning, gibbous, crescent, quarter (as they relate to the lunar cycle).
Waxing: getting bigger
Waning: getting smaller
Gibbous: almost full
Crescent: less than half full
Quarter: A “half circle”

5. 4. Draw and label the cause daytime/night time
The earth rotating on its axis is the cause of day and night
sun

6. 5. Draw and label the relationship of the earth to the sun at each of the four seasons.

7. It is the “opposite” season in the Southern
6. Explain what season it is in the Northern Hemisphere compared to the Southern Hemisphere.
It is the “opposite” season in the Southern
Hemisphere from what we are experiencing.
For Example: when it is cold and wintery
Here in the United States, it will be warm and
summery south of the equator.

8. 7. Explain (you may used pictures to help with your words) why some areas of earth’s surface are warmer than others at different times of the year – in other words, explain why seasons occur.
The Earth is tilted on its axis. The hemisphere tilted toward the sun is experiencing summer because it is receiving concentrated or more direct sunlight. The other hemisphere is experiencing winter and receiving sunlight spread over a larger area.

9. (IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE) WE ARE ACTUALLY CLOSER TO THE SUN
8. During what season (for North America) is the Earth closest to the sun?
WHEN IT IS COLD HERE
(IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE)
WE ARE ACTUALLY CLOSER TO THE SUN

10. 29.5 days 9. Rotation of Earth on its axis 24 hours
10. Revolution of Earth around the sun
365 days
11. Rotation of the moon on its axis
27.3 days
12. Revolution of moon around the Earth
13. Completion of the lunar cycle (phases)
29.5 days

11. 14. Based on the chart, why do we only see one side of the moon?
The rotation and revolution of the moon are both the same days

12. 16. Which moon phases occur during spring tide.
15. Draw the alignment (relationship) of the earth sun and moon during a spring tide.
16. Which moon phases occur during spring tide.
sun
Earth
New moon
full moon

13. 18. Which moon phases occur during neap tide.
17. Draw the alignment (relationship) of the earth sun and moon during a neap tide.
18. Which moon phases occur during neap tide.
Third Quarter
Sun
Earth
First Quarter

14. Spring tides are when high tides are higher
19. Explain what the difference is between Spring Tides and Neap Tides.
Spring tides are when high tides are higher
than average and low tides are lower than
average. The tidal range is more extreme.
(occurs with new and full moons)
Neap tides are opposite of Spring Tides; the
highs aren’t as high and lows are as low. The
tidal range is smaller. (occurs with first and
third quarter moon phases)
There are two times of spring tides and two
times of neap tides each month.

15. Two high tides and two low tides occur each day.
20. How many high tides and low tides are there each day and how far apart (in hours) are they?
Two high tides and two low tides occur each day.
High tides are 12 hours and 25 minutes apart. Or about 12 hours
Low tides fall between the high tides
So a low tide would follow a high tide by about six hours.

16. Half of the earth and moon receive light at any given time.
21. Regardless of the phase of the moon, how much of the earth and moon receives light from the sun at any given time.
Half of the earth and moon receive light at any given time.
sun