Monday and Tuesday, 10-11-12

Monday I was absent; the worksheet posted on Friday's post (see link below) was handed out.
Today we finished inertia demonstrations and I answered questions on the worksheet; it's due tomorrow.
**Optional Assignment** If you are wanting something to elevate your grade, you should be starting Moon observations tonight. Each night (or early morning), you need to record the following: (on any piece of paper is fine)
-(date)
-Time
-Direction you see the Moon (North, SW, E, S, etc...) - ask your parents or use the internet to figure out what directions are at your house.
-Sketch (make it large and detailed if you can see any features/craters)
-Approximate angle in the sky (ex: 25 degrees above horizon)
-Weather conditions (clear, partly cloudy, etc.)

Example of an ideal reading:
10-12
8:15 PM
West, slightly SouthWest
*
*
* (large sketch goes here)
*
*
25 degrees above horizon
Clear skies

When problems arise:
1. )No moon? Just report:
10-12
8:15PM
Cannot find moon
Clear sky

2.) Too cloudy? Just report:
10-12
8:15 PM
Moon is up, but behind clouds

The time doesn't have to be the same each day, but it helps if you can keep it consistent for a few days in a row at the same time during some portion of this project so you can judge motion from day to day. I set an alarm on my cell phone to remind me.

If you miss a day, just make a note of it in your log and skip it.

We are looking for a full lunar cycle, so if you see the Moon tonight, you will take observations each day (or night) until you see the same image in the sky again.