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Eclipses: Light & Shadow

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Eclipses: Light & Shadow

Investigate how the positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon create eclipses. Use the information and visuals on this page to solve each task. Never look directly at the Sun; use approved eclipse-viewing equipment.

A shadow investigation

In a cooking-class demonstration, Isla places a small ball between a lamp and a larger ball. The lamp represents the Sun, the small ball represents the Moon, and the large ball represents Earth. Light travels in straight lines, so the small ball blocks some light and casts a shadow. In space, an umbra is the darkest central part of a shadow; a penumbra is the lighter outer part.

1.In the model, the small ball sits between the lamp and the larger ball. Which space event does this alignment represent when the bodies are the Sun, Moon and Earth?

A solar eclipse
A lunar eclipse
A new Moon with no eclipse possible

2.During a solar eclipse, which object receives the Moon’s shadow?

3.A person on Earth is inside the darkest central part of the Moon’s shadow. What is this part called?

4.A person in the penumbra sees only part of the Sun covered. What type of solar eclipse do they see?

A partial solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse
A lunar eclipse

Two different alignments

An eclipse needs the Sun, Earth and Moon to line up closely. For a solar eclipse, the order is Sun–Moon–Earth. For a lunar eclipse, the order is Sun–Earth–Moon: Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. The Moon’s orbit is tilted compared with Earth’s orbit around the Sun, so the three bodies usually pass above or below one another at new Moon or full Moon. That is why eclipses do not happen every month.

5.Write the correct order of the three bodies during a lunar eclipse, starting with the one closest to the Sun.

6.Talia says, “In a lunar eclipse, the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth.” Rewrite her claim correctly.

7.The Moon has a new Moon phase about once every month, but a solar eclipse does not happen every month. Explain why, using the Moon’s orbit in your answer.

8.True or false: A lunar eclipse can only occur at full Moon, when Earth is between the Sun and Moon.

TrueFalse

9.Mei wants to watch a partial solar eclipse from Aotearoa New Zealand. Why must she use approved solar-viewing equipment rather than ordinary sunglasses?