Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 2: Problem 37

Solar and lunar eclipses are recurring phenomena. a. From any given location, why are you more likely to witness a partial eclipse of the Sun than a total eclipse? b. Why do we not see a lunar eclipse each time the Moon is full or witness a solar eclipse each time the Moon is new?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Partial solar eclipses are more common because the path of totality is narrow. Eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon's orbit is tilted relative to the Earth's orbit.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Solar Eclipses

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the view of the Sun from a location on Earth. It can be total, partial, or annular.
02

- Frequency of Partial Solar Eclipses

Total solar eclipses are rare for any given location because the path of totality, where the total eclipse can be observed, is very narrow – only about 100 miles wide. Outside this path, observers see a partial eclipse. Since the path of totality is limited, most areas are more likely to see a partial eclipse.
03

Understanding Lunar Eclipses

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. This only happens during a full moon.
04

- Plane of Moon's Orbit

The Moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted about 5 degrees relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic plane). This tilt causes the Moon, Earth, and Sun to only align perfectly on rare occasions.
05

- Why Eclipses Don’t Occur Every Month

Due to the 5-degree tilt, the Moon often passes above or below the Earth’s shadow during full moons, and likewise, the shadow of the Moon often does not fall on the Earth during new moons. Therefore, eclipses do not happen every month.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Solar Eclipses
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. It blocks the sunlight from reaching part of the Earth. Depending on the alignment, solar eclipses can be total, partial, or annular. Here are important elements about solar eclipses:

  • Total solar eclipse: The Moon completely covers the Sun. Only the narrow path of totality sees this. It's only about 100 miles wide. Observers outside this path only see a partial eclipse.
  • Partial solar eclipse: The Moon covers only a part of the Sun. This is more common than total eclipses since the path of totality is very narrow.
  • Annular solar eclipse: The Moon is too far from Earth to fully cover the Sun. Instead, the Sun appears as a ring around the Moon.

Because the path of totality is so small, people at a given location are much more likely to witness a partial solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses require precise alignment and location which are rare.
Lunar Eclipses
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, making it appear dimmer or reddish. This only happens during a full moon. The Earth's shadow has two parts:

  • Umbra: The central, darker part of the shadow where the Sun is completely blocked.
  • Penumbra: The lighter, outer part of the shadow where the Sun is only partially blocked.

Types of lunar eclipses include:
  • Total lunar eclipse: The entire Moon passes through the Earth's umbra.
  • Partial lunar eclipse: Only a part of the Moon enters the Earth's umbra.
  • Penumbral lunar eclipse: The Moon passes through the Earth's penumbra, causing a subtle shading.

But why don't we see a lunar eclipse every full moon? This leads us to the concept of orbital tilt.
Orbital Tilt
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees relative to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. This tilt causes the Moon to usually pass above or below the Earth's shadow during full moons and the Sun’s shadow during new moons. As a result, lunar and solar eclipses do not happen every month.

Here's how it works:
  • Perfect alignment: For an eclipse to occur, the Sun, Earth, and Moon must be perfectly aligned. Because of the tilt, this only happens occasionally, creating those unique eclipse events.
  • Nodes: The points where the Moon's orbit crosses the Earth's orbital plane are called nodes. Eclipses only occur when the Moon is near one of these nodes during a new moon (solar eclipse) or a full moon (lunar eclipse).

Understanding the concept of orbital tilt helps explain why we don’t witness these magical events every month. It adds to the wonder and rarity of watching an eclipse.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A lunar eclipse occurs when ___ shadow falls on ___. a. Earth's; the Moon b. the Moon's; Earth c. the Sun's; the Moon d. the Sun's; Earth

Constellations are groups of stars that a. are close to each other in space. b. are bound to each other by gravity c. are close to each other in Earth's sky. d. all have the same composition.

Suppose you would like to witness the midnight Sun (when the Sun appears just above the northern horizon at midnight), but you don't want to travel any farther north than necessary. a. How far north (that is, to which latitude) would you have to go? b. At what time of year would you make this trip?

The stars we see at night depend on a. our location on Earth. b. Earth's location in its orbit. c. the time of the observation. d. all of the above

Assume that the Moon's orbit is circular. Imagine that you are standing on the side of the Moon that faces Earth. a. How would Earth appear to move in the sky as the Moon made one revolution around Earth? b. How would the "phases of Earth" appear to you, compared to the phases of the Moon as seen from Earth?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Read Explanation

Wave Optics

Read Explanation

Electricity and Magnetism

Read Explanation

Space Physics

Read Explanation

Measurements

Read Explanation

Energy Physics

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free