Gerald keeps a journal of Moon phases for a homework assignment. His sketches of how the Moon appeared on three different clear nights are shown below. Based upon Gerald's drawings, it appears that the Moon is waning.

Question

Moon Phase - Full Moon Moon Phase - Waxing Crescent Moon Phase - Last Quarter(2 points)
Responses

True
True

False

Answer 1

Based on your description of Gerald's drawings, it seems that you are trying to determine if the Moon is waning based on the given phases.

• A Full Moon is when the Moon is fully illuminated and is not waning.
• A Waxing Crescent is when the Moon is in a phase of growing illumination, hence not waning but waxing.
• A Last Quarter Moon means the Moon is decreasing in illumination and can be considered waning.

Since a Full Moon and Waxing Crescent are not waning phases, but the Last Quarter is waning, if his sketches show all three phases, then it would be incorrect to say that the Moon is waning overall during those observations.

So the correct interpretation is:

• If asking if "the Moon is waning" based on the phases he observed, the answer would be False.

Let me know if you need further clarification!