Physics 110: Assignment 1

Problems 1 and 2 are due Wednesday, September 4.
Problem 3 is due Monday, September 23.

  1. Send me an e-mail message including: your name and NAID number, your e-mail address if you have one, the date that you are sending me the message, and the title of that day's Astronomy Picture of the Day. If you wish, you may also include your answer to problem 2.

  2. Explain what causes the phases of the Moon. (Note: you will get to answer this question again when you submit problem 3. At that time I will replace the score you get on this problem with the score your later answer gets. So don't spend a lot of time researching!)

  3. (Due September 23) Over the next few weeks, observe the phase of the Moon. Each night that you are able, record the time you observe the Moon, what part of the Moon's disk is illuminated, and where the Sun is in the sky at that time. From your observations, come up with an explanation of what causes the phases of the Moon. This problem can (and should!) be done in a group of up to four people. Turn in one writeup for the entire group.

Published by NDSU Department of Physics
Douglas A. Kurtze
E-mail: kurtze@plains.nodak.edu
Phone: (701) 231-7048
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