Science Projects About the Sun Vs. Moon
Of the many celestial bodies in the sky, no two have more importance in our daily lives than the sun, which gives us light and heat, and the moon, which affects the tides of our oceans. Creating a science project that looks at both will give you a stronger understanding of these celestial bodies.
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Measuring Sizes
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Many young children have used a viewer consisting of a tiny pinhole in a piece of aluminum foil to safely watch a solar eclipse. They can use the same method to find the size of the solar bodies. By measuring the diameter of the light cast by each body on a piece of paper, and dividing by the distance from the hole to the paper, the student then multiplies by the distance to the celestial bodies to find their sizes. For example, a student measures a diameter of light of 1.08 inches at a distance of 10 feet, or 120 inches. 1.08 inches is divided by 120 inches to yield a result of .009, which is then multiplied by the estimated distance to the moon, 238,855 miles, to yield a result of 2,149.7 miles as the moon's approximate diameter.
The Moon's Phases
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Over a fortnight, the moon that we see from Earth goes through a progression from full moon to new moon or back again. The phases of the moon are caused by the relationship among the sun, the earth and the moon. A science project on how the phases are created takes a look at the relative positions of each during key phases of the moon.
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Comparing Distances
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Taking a lead from ancient mathematicians, students use modern understanding of the solar system to find an accurate formula for finding the distance from Earth to both the moon and the sun. The distances are found using information from recent eclipses as well as known statistics about the Earth, which then allow the children to perform the computations. This is an advanced science project for students in secondary education, and is completed using a series of calculations (see Resources).
Model Solar System
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Although the model solar system project has been used in popular culture as a sign of a stereotypical project, alongside the model volcano, when accurately created with balls and the distances of the balls all at the proper scale, a model solar system can be a valuable learning aid. By representing all of the planets in our solar system, as well as the sun and the moon, children can see up close the relative size of each.
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References
Resources
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