Final answer:
The observable patterns of changing daylight throughout a year are caused by Earth's axial tilt, while the changing phases of the Moon are due to its orbit around the Earth and the varying angles of sunlight. These natural phenomena are distinct from eclipses, which are special occurrences when the Earth, Moon, and Sun align. option b is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patterns of changing daylight throughout the year and the monthly changing appearance of the Moon are caused by Earth’s axial tilt and the Moon’s phases, respectively. As the Earth orbits the Sun, its axis of rotation is tilted, which causes the variation in daylight as different parts of the Earth are angled towards or away from the Sun during the year. This tilt leads to the seasons we experience.
In contrast, the Moon’s phases are the result of its orbit around the Earth and the changing angles of sunlight that reach it. When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, we observe a new moon, whereas a full moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. The portion of the illuminated Moon that we can see from Earth changes in a consistent cycle every month.
A simple experiment that helps illustrate this concept involves using a light source to represent the Sun, your head representing the Earth, and a ball as the Moon. By moving the ball around your head while facing the light, the changing illumination of the ball mimics the lunar phases we see in the sky.
These phases are not to be confused with an eclipse, which occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth or vice versa, creating a solar or lunar eclipse. These celestial events happen infrequently and are influenced by the slight variations in the apparent sizes of the Sun and Moon due to their changing distances from Earth.