You have most likely seen the different sizes of the moon, but do you know why they happen?

The moon does not emit its light but reflects it from the Sun. That is why we can see the moon; the moon revolves around the Earth in the same manner as the Earth orbits the Sun.

The moon phases are the various shapes that the moon takes during its journey around the Earth. When the moon is at such a position as shown in the figure, the sunlight is only reaching the far side of the moon, and hence the moon is not visible to us called a new moon.

A full moon occurs when the moon is in such a position in the sky that sunlight reaches the moon’s part facing us. The moon appears as a complete sphere in the sky.

Now that we know all about phases of the moon, let’s make our own model!

Got a kit in your hand? let’s see what it consists of.

Steps to be followed for making your own model of the phases of the moon.

Step 1: Paste the sticker that has waning gibbous, quarter and crescent on one lengthier side of the box as shown in the figure.

Step 2: Paste the sticker that has waxing gibbous, quarter and crescent on the other lengthier side of the box, as shown in the figure.

Step 3: Paste the sticker that has a full moon on one shorter side of the box, as shown in the figure.

Step 4: Paste the sticker that has a new moon on the other shorter side of the box, as shown in the figure.

Step 5: Cut 3 sides of the phases of the moon that were pasted in all 4 sides of the box using a scissor/cutter in a way by lifting the cut section, the inner box must be seen, as shown in the figure.

Step 6: Place the thermocol ball inside the box in the given toothpick and add clay to mount the set-up in the middle of the box, as shown in the figure.

Step 7: Place the torch inside the box by making a hole in the side of the box, which has the sticker stating, “Cut here” and adjust the torch in a way that the light directly strikes the thermocol ball, as shown in the figure.

Experimenting different Phases of the moon!

After placing the torch in its position, close the box and lift the various cut sections of the box made for the different phases of the moon and experience the shapes and the view that is visible to us during different phases.

Now that you have seen all the different phases of the moon made by yourself, try sketching all the phases as how it was visible to you or at least your favourite phase.