Solar and lunar eclipses

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Table (model data), Model data: Moon dates

   Date	Phase and Moon near Earth's orbit plane?
   A. February new moon	Moon near the plane of Earth's orbit: no

   B. April full moon: yes. C. June full moon: no. D. October new moon: yes.

2. 1.

   Esme studies the example table of four Moon dates. Which date could have a lunar eclipse?

   • C: the June full moon
   • B: the April full moon
   • A: the February new moon
   • D: the October new moon
3. 2.

   Using the same example table, Jun looks for a date that could have a solar eclipse. Which date fits?

   • D: the October new moon
   • B: the April full moon
   • A: the February new moon
   • C: the June full moon

4. Side view, not to scale

   The Moon's tilted orbit crossing the plane of Earth's orbit at two points, on opposite sides; the April line-up is marked at one crossing.

5. 3.

   A lunar eclipse happens at an April full moon. About when does Kira expect the Moon to line up with the Sun and Earth again?

   • About 6 months later, at the other crossing
   • Exactly 12 months later, on the same date
   • Next month, at the very next full moon
   • Next month, since a full moon's dark edge is Earth's shadow
6. 4.

   Side view, not to scale; with the shadow not yet drawn. Luz's friend says a solar eclipse happens when Earth's shadow falls on the Sun. Which response is best?

   • Agree: Earth's shadow darkens the Sun
   • Disagree: it happens at full moon, when the Moon is bright
   • Disagree: the Moon's shadow falls on Earth
   • Agree: and it happens at each new moon
7. 5.

   Milo's cousin says a lunar eclipse is just the Moon's new moon phase. Which response is best?

   • Disagree: it is seen from just a narrow path
   • Agree: the new moon is Earth's shadow on the Moon
   • Agree: the Moon's shadow covers the Moon then
   • Disagree: it happens at full moon, in Earth's shadow
8. 6.

   “not to scale” A post claims that everyone on Earth's daytime side sees each total solar eclipse. Noah checks it. Which response is best?

   • Agree: the Moon's shadow covers the whole day side
   • Agree: Earth's shadow covers the whole Sun
   • Disagree: the Moon is as big as the Sun, so the path is wide
   • Disagree: totality is seen only along a narrow path

9. Sizes and distances (NASA)

   Body	Diameter and Distance from Earth
   Sun diameter about 1,391,400 km	distance from Earth about 149,600,000 km
   Moon diameter about 3,475 km	distance from Earth about 384,400 km

10. 7.

    The Sun is about 400 times wider than the Moon and about 389 times farther from Earth. What does Ren explain with these two numbers?

    • Why Earth's shadow covers the Sun
    • Why each new moon makes an eclipse
    • Why they look about the same size in our sky
    • Why the Moon is really as big as the Sun
11. 8.

    “Classroom model, top view:” In a class model, a lamp is the Sun, a foam ball is the Moon and Zee's head is Earth. Where should Zee hold the ball to model a lunar eclipse?

    • At W, between the head and the lamp
    • At X, beside the head
    • At Y, inside the head's shadow
    • At Y-high, just above the head's shadow
12. 9.

    In the lamp model, where should Ari hold the ball so its shadow lands on Ari's face, modeling a solar eclipse?

    • At W, exactly in line with the lamp and the head
    • At Y, behind the head
    • At W-high, raised above the line
    • Anywhere, since the shadow fills the room
13. 10.

    In the model, the ball's shadow on Bo's face is a small spot, not the whole face. What does this show about solar eclipses?

    • The whole day side sees totality at once
    • A small area of Earth sees totality
    • The ball must be as big as the lamp to work
    • The head's shadow is what makes a solar eclipse