Some people believe that the Moon's phases are caused by Earth's shadows on the Moon. Is this true? Use your model to explain.

Answer: False

Some people believe that the Moon's phases are caused by Earth's shadows on the Moon is false.

Explanation:

Some people believe that the Moon's phases are caused by Earth's shadows on the Moon is their misconception.

The phases depend on its place relative with sun and earth. The phases of moon are new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbon, full moon, wanning gibbon, last quarter, wanning crescent, new moon.

For example,

When moon, earth, and sun are exactly in the same line and moon lies in between earth and sun, the sun illuminates the back part of the moon which is not visible from earth. This forms new moon.

So only relative positions matter in the phases of moon.