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Hello People
Do any of you have a few thoughts or comments on and refinements to the following idea? Proposed project for primary age Residential Centre in Hampshire UK Moon Circle Outdoor Scale model of the moon orbiting the Earth Materials. The model requires durable weather proof Moon spheres which will be painted white/grey with supporting rods black/green Wrought Iron spheres on iron supports 4 cm spheres at approx 4m radius from Earth Sphere This project will highlight in an innovative manner several aspects of the Earth Moon relationship Firstly it will give a visual, solid, real life view of the size relationships between the Earth and the moon with the moon at 4cm diameter and the Earth at 14 or so Dia It will give a sense of distance as these spheres will be placed at approx relative distances There will be 28 moons orbiting the Earth at equal distances representing the distance travelled in approx one day, taking about 28 days to make a complete orbit Consider two types of orbit, actual and time betwen full moons The real joy of this model is that when the sun is shining each moon will be illuminate and be half lit and half shadow. If viewed from the middle of the moon circle, then as viewed from the Earth perspective the moons will appear to change phase as the observer looks at each moon sphere in turn another niftyfeature of this model is that if you know the phase of the real moon and whether it has risen or not, then if you were inside the moon circle looking at say a 'Half' (quarter) moon. Then if the real 'half' moon is in the sky and visible then it will be directly above the ping-pong ball that has that 'half' moon shadow. If you have not yet tried it , hold up a sphere outside in sunshine and turn 360 whilst looking at the sphere and watch the changing phases.... or just use your fist . The letters in word 'Phase' can be used to spell the word 'Shape'...Moon Phase , Shape of the Moon As long as the sun is in the sky then whole moon phase will be in view from early morning through to sunrise Those moons that are towards the sun will be mostly shadow those that are away from the sun will be mostly lit up and those that are at right angle will appear as half moons ( first and third quarters) The whole process will be viewable with a single rotation ,though only on sunny days. (Mention cultural links e.g. N American /European namings for each full moon) This will be visible more or less all year round and is ideal for
groups
that change on a regular basis and for large groups as 30 children could easily sit within and view all the moons
The Orbiting moons will prob be set parallel to the Earth or possibly inclined at 51 degrees with the highest moon to the South. This inclination will give a better view of the changing moon phase but will not be so easy to duplicate if schools wish to make their own models with ping pong balls and dowels. The central Earth globe should be tilted and rotatable with its pole to the north Star The size and distances covered will lead on to astronomical scales and speed for example what is the distance of the moons orbit around the Earth? How far does it travel in a day? What speed therefore must it be going to do this journey? (Qu. for children) If the Earth is orbiting the sun then which direction is it travelling in , how far in meters will it have gone or how many degrees has it moved each day if represented by a 14 cm sphere (Qu.for children) Because this model is using the real sun the relationship between the model Earth and moon and the real Earth and moon is the same If it is known to be a new moon the by definition the new moon is near the sun ,so the moon sphere directly between the Earth and sun gives the moons general location If it is known to be a full moon then by definition the Earth is directly between the two others. So if the sun is setting in the west the full moon will be rising in the east, and the model will show a fully illuminated moon sphere to the East With an inclined version of the moon circle it would be possible to include a horizon either within or outside the moon circle .This would then allow moon rise and set to be considered and also help explain that the moon is not always in the night time sky and is just as frequently in the day time sky as it is in the night one Which is the best option? , horizontal or inclined,? With horizontal low morning sun gives good shadows , high summer sun lights up top surface of moon spheres. Inclined moons end up on very high supporting rods, too flimsy, perhaps support o an 8m diameter inclined hoop? If the Earth is tilted then the moons orbit should be inclined some how.
Thoughts and comments ?
Cheers
Chris Townsend
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