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?

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

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

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

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

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

   Sun diameter about 1,391,400 km; Moon diameter about 3,475 km. Pia reads the NASA size table. About how many times wider is the Sun than the Moon?

   • About 4 times wider
   • About the same width
   • About 40 times wider
   • About 400 times wider
9. 7.

   “Two side views, not to scale:” When the Moon is at its farthest from Earth, it looks a little smaller. Which eclipse can Tala read about at a new moon then?

   • A total eclipse, since the Moon is as big as the Sun
   • An annular eclipse, with a ring of Sun showing
   • A lunar eclipse, since the Moon is far away
   • An eclipse at each new moon that season
10. 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 Y, inside the head's shadow
    • At X, beside the head
    • At W, between the head and the lamp
    • At Y-high, just above the head's shadow
11. 9.

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

    • Anywhere, since the shadow fills the room
    • At W-high, raised above the line
    • At Y, behind the head
    • At W, exactly in line with the lamp and the head
12. 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?

    • 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
    • The whole day side sees totality at once