Question

The below shows two Earth events.

Event 1. It shows the sun, Earth, and moon along the same straight line. The sun is on the left and the moon is on the right. Earth is shown between the sun and the moon. The moons orbit is shown pointing in the counterclockwise direction.

Event 2. It shows the sun, moon, and Earth along the same straight line. The sun is on the left and Earth is on the right. The moon is shown between the sun and Earth. The moons orbit is shown pointing in the counterclockwise direction.

Which of these statements is correct about the two events shown in the above ?
a. Earth's shadow falls on the moon during Event 2.
b. The moon's shadow falls on parts of Earth during Event 1.
c. Event 2 shows lunar eclipse and Event 1 shows solar eclipse.
d. Event 1 shows lunar eclipse and Event 2 shows solar eclipse.

Answer 1

- Option (a) "Earth's shadow falls on the moon during Event 2" is correct.

- Option (b) "The moon's shadow falls on parts of Earth during Event 1" is incorrect.

- Option (c) "Event 2 shows lunar eclipse and Event 1 shows solar eclipse" is incorrect.

- Option (d) "Event 1 shows lunar eclipse and Event 2 shows solar eclipse" is incorrect.

In Event 1, where the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned with Earth between the sun and the moon, it represents a new moon phase. During this phase, the moon is not visible from Earth because the illuminated side of the moon is facing away from us. Since the moon is in its counterclockwise orbit, it does not cast a shadow on Earth. Therefore, option (b) "The moon's shadow falls on parts of Earth during Event 1" is incorrect.

In Event 2, where the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned with the moon between the sun and Earth, it represents a full moon phase. During a full moon, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, and its illuminated side faces us. However, a lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon phase. In a lunar eclipse, Earth blocks the sunlight from reaching the moon, causing the moon to darken or appear reddish. Therefore, option (c) "Event 2 shows lunar eclipse and Event 1 shows solar eclipse" is incorrect.

Based on this information, we can conclude that option (a) "Earth's shadow falls on the moon during Event 2" is correct. During a lunar eclipse, Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow on the moon. This causes the moon to darken or appear reddish as it passes through Earth's shadow.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (a) "Earth's shadow falls on the moon during Event 2."