How to Model the Moon Reflecting Light to Earth
The moon may only be one-quarter of the size of Earth, but it’s large enough to reflect sunlight across more than 356,000 miles of space, making it visible at night from our planet’s surface. The moon does not shine, but rather, it simply reflects light, making your nights a little brighter. With a full moon, you may even see your shadow.
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Instructions
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Arrange the flashlight, the mirror and the ball to represent the position of the sun, the moon and Earth in the solar system. Set the flashlight and the ball 4 feet apart. Imagine a line connecting the two. Place the mirror 6 inches from the ball and 6 inches off the line.
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Dim the lights and turn on the flashlight -- the sun. Point the flashlight in the direction of the mirror -- the moon -- and the ball, representing Earth.
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Adjust the mirror so that it reflects the light from your flashlight onto the ball, the same way the moon reflects the sun’s light upon Earth.
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Move the position of the mirror around the ball to demonstrate the moon's rotation around Earth. Keep the light from your mirror reflecting on the ball while doing so, showing how the moon reflects sunlight upon Earth as it orbits the planet.
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Tips & Warnings
This demonstration works best in a dim room and with one volunteer.
References
- Photo Credit NASA/Photodisc/Getty Images
