As viewed from Earth, the boundary line between the dark and lite part of the Moon is called the terminator.
The Moon’s terminator always moves toward the left (east) side of the Moon.
Discover for Yourself
Make a model to show the movement of the Moon’s terminator from day to day.
The objective of the model is to show how the terminator boundary moves across the face of the Moon as the moon phases change.
Clues :
The following information provides clues, but not specific measurements for a model. I invite you to improve on this model.
1. Fold a stiff piece of paper, such as poster board in half.
2. Cut a circle out of one side of the folded paper. Fig. A
3. Cut a strip of stiff paper for the slide. Fig. B
4. Color part of the slide black as shown. It is important to have the curves as shown.
You want the black and white areas to be slightly slightly wider than the diameter of the circle in Fig. A.
5. Close the one long edge of the folded paper (Fig. A) with tape.
6. Insert the slide (Fig. C).
7. Pull the slide toward the lift and watch the shape of the moon phases that form.
8. Notice the shape of the terminator as it moves across the Moon’s face.
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