Construct Earth-Moon Model

Attach a 10-centimeter hard foam ball with glue to the end of a three-meter-long board to represent the Earth.

Insert one end of a stiff wire into a 2.5-centimeter hard foam ball.

Attach the small ball by the wire to the other end of the board to represent the moon. Adjust the wire so the centers of the two balls line up.

Lunar Eclipse

Go outside on a sunny day to demonstrate the lunar eclipse.

Hold the board with the Earth closer to the sun than the moon.

Adjust the position of the board until the shadow of the earth completely covers the moon to create the lunar eclipse.

Solar Eclipse

Go outside on a sunny day to demonstrate the solar eclipse.

Hold the board with the moon closer to the sun than the Earth.

Adjust the position of the board until the shadow of the moon falls across the Earth to create the solar eclipse.

Observe how the shadow of the moon does not completely cover the Earth. This is the way it happens during a real solar eclipse.

Things You'll Need

• Hard foam ball, 10-cm in diameter
• Glue
• 1-inch x 1-inch board, 3 meters long
• Hard foam ball, 2.5-cm in diameter
• Stiff wire

Warnings

• Do not look directly at the sun.