Question
Select your answer (24 out of 25 As the moon orbits the earth, the phases of the moon (the portion of the visible moon that is lit by the sun) change from full moon ( \( 100 \% \) lit) to new moon ( \( 0 \% \) lit) and then back to full moon. If the phases of the moon can be modeled using a sinusoidal function with a period of 29.5 days, how much time passes between a full moon and a new moon? 7.4 days 14.8 days 22.1 days 29.5 days 59.0 days
Ask by Patel Deleon. in the United States
Feb 28,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The time between a full moon and a new moon is approximately 14.8 days.
Solution
The period of the sinusoidal model is 29.5 days, which represents the full cycle from one full moon back to the next full moon. Since a full moon is 100% lit and a new moon is 0% lit, and because the light coverage changes symmetrically according to a sinusoid, the time from a full moon to a new moon is half a period.
Calculating half the period: 29.5 days ÷ 2 = 14.75 days.
Thus, the closest answer is 14.8 days.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
Like
error msg
Explain 
Simplify this solution Beyond the Answer
The time that passes between a full moon and a new moon is half of the lunar cycle's period. Since the full moon occurs at \( 0\% \) and the new moon at \( 100\% \), that transition takes place in half of the cycle. With a period of 29.5 days, you simply divide by 2, giving you 14.8 days. So the correct answer is: **14.8 days**. Enjoy the beautiful view of the moon while you ponder the fascinating science behind its phases!
