If the moon is a reflection of the sun

[espookid]

If the moon is a reflection of the sun ,why is it only partial most of the time when you can see the sun at the same time?
It seems to me there is nothing blocking the sunlight to it

[bibblebub]

http://bdaugherty.tri...oon/images/phases.jpg

[factor-fiction]

Have you taken into account the earth's position between the sun and the moon ?

[douglas9401]

The moon isn't a reflection of the sun, it's illuminated by sunlight.

[factor-fiction]

http://www.woodlands-...k/time/moon/shape.htm
This is a good description and explanation of what happens.

[factor-fiction]

I assumed that that's what he meant, douglas, but he just didn't word it clearly

[woofgang]

I passed O level science on the basis of knowing the answer to this and getting the diagram right!!!
it was a simpler life then........

[espookid]

thanks for the answers .I put the question a bit vaguely ,of course I know that the sunlight's reflection is what we see . The question is ,
How can we see both in the daytime and yet it is not a full reflection and if we see them at the same time how is the earth between them ?

[factor-fiction]

The diagrams in the links provided should help you answer those questions

[mibn2cweus]

The Moon is a sphere illuminated fully on one side by the Sun. The side we see from Earth appears fully illuminated by the Sun only (typically once a month) when the Sun is (nearly) opposite to the Moon.

[ll_billym]

It is easy to see what's happening in the daytime when you can see both.

Just look where the sun is and imagine the moon as a spherical object, not a flat crescent. The part of the moon that faces the sun will be lit up, and the other part of it - the 'back' if you will - will be dark. The 'back' is dark because the sun is in 'front' of it.

Most of the time the Earth is looking at this at varying degrees of 'side on' so we 'see' part of the bit that is lit up, and part of the bit that is dark (even though we cannot 'see' the dark bit it is still there).