Question

Give Long Answers in not more than 100 words:

(b) Describe the phases of the Moon.​

Answer 1

$\sf \: Phases \: of \: the \: moon$

The moon our nearest neighbour in space, is a natural satellite of the earth. It has no air or water on it. It doesn't have light of its own. Its observed silvery glow is Only due to the light of the sun reflected by its surface.

The shape and size of the front part of the moon appears to change gradually everyday. It takes nearly 29.5 solar days for the moon to make one complete revolution around the earth.

During the first half of the moon's orbit, the moon's size gross (waxes). During the remaining half of its orbit, the moon appears to decrease (wanes) in size.

On a full moon day, the earth lies in between the moon & the sun. On this day, the full face of the moon is visible to us. On a new moon day, the moon is on the 'other side' of the earth, hence, we can't see it. On the days following the new moon day, the illuminated part of the moon appears crescent in shape. The size of this illuminated part goes on increasing day by day until its full face becomes visible again on the full moon day. These appearances of the moon on different days, are known as Phases of the moon.