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Bad Astronomy

This piece explores three common misconceptions about astronomy: the moon's rotation, tidal generation, and the source of the sun's energy. It clarifies that the moon does rotate, leading to the same side always facing Earth due to synchronous rotation. Additionally, it explains that there are typically two high tides per day, influenced more by the moon's proximity than the sun's gravity. Lastly, it emphasizes that the sun's energy primarily comes from nuclear fusion in its core, not its surface, dispelling myths that confuse the fundamental processes of our celestial bodies.

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Bad Astronomy

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  1. Bad Astronomy By Jan Decker PHY489.02 May 4, 2011

  2. 3 Misconceptions The moon does not rotate The moon generates one tide per day The Sun's energy is not produced in its core, but on its surface.

  3. Misconception I The moon does not rotate. Why does someone believe the moon does not rotate? misconception – We are seeing the shadow of the earth on the moon. Cannot be true – when the moon passes through the shadow of the earth, we get a lunar eclipse.

  4. Reasons for misconception Some believe we are seeing the shadow of the earth on the moon. Not true! Lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes behind the earth so the earth blocks the sun rays from striking the moon.

  5. Misconception 1The moon does not rotate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DNEI4VMKrw Time for one rotation - 27.3 days to rotate once on its axis. Time to orbit earth - 27.3 days to complete one orbit around the earth, we always see the same side of the moon.

  6. Bad Astronomy 2 The moon generates one tide per day. FALSE! Tides are the vertical rising and lowering of sea level, and are greatly controlled by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. Although the sun has a stronger gravitational attraction than the moon, the moon's relative nearness to the earth makes its gravitational pull more than twice as effective as the sun's.

  7. Tides –First explained by Isaac Newton • Gravitational attraction of the moon, causes oceans to bulge • Since the earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day.

  8. Misconception 3The Sun's energy is not produced in its core, but on its surface. • The major source of the sun's energy is the decaying central core. • The sun fuses hydrogen into helium. • Core is the hottest part of the sun. • Core produces almost all the sun’s heat via fusion. • The rest of the star is heated by energy that is transferred outward of the core.

  9. Source of Sun’s Energy

  10. Eliciting • Idenitify • Confronting • Resolving • reinforcing

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