Solar and lunar eclipses

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Side view, not to scale:

2. 1.

   Ari reads an astronomy book. A diagram shows the Sun, then the Moon, then Earth, in one straight line. Which event does it show?

   • A lunar eclipse
   • A full moon
   • A solar eclipse
   • A first quarter Moon
3. 2.

   During a lunar eclipse, the full moon turns dim and coppery red. Whose shadow is Jun reading about?

   • A cloud's shadow, crossing the Moon
   • Earth's shadow, falling on the Moon
   • The Moon's shadow, falling on Earth
   • No shadow; it is the Moon's monthly phase
4. 3.

   “Side view, not to scale” During a total solar eclipse, daytime turns dark along a narrow strip of land. Luz reads about it. Whose shadow makes the dark strip?

   • The shadow that makes a new moon dark
   • Earth's shadow on the Moon
   • A big storm cloud's shadow
   • The Moon's shadow on Earth
5. 4.

   “Side view, not to scale:” Milo reads that a lunar eclipse can keep the full moon dim and red for over an hour. What is covering the Moon?

   • The Moon's own shadow, cast onto Earth
   • The Moon's far side turning toward us
   • Earth's shadow
   • Dark spots on the Sun
6. 5.

   “Orbit diagram, top view, not to scale:” Noah reads about a solar eclipse for the astronomy club. Which Moon phase must it be during a solar eclipse?

   • Full moon
   • Any phase, on any day
   • First quarter
   • New moon
7. 6.

   with one evening marked 'lunar eclipse' and the Moon phases left blank. A lunar eclipse is marked on Pia's astronomy club calendar. Which Moon phase will it be that night?

   • Third quarter
   • Whatever phase is up that week
   • New moon
   • Full moon

8. Use this

   Orbit diagram, top view, not to scale: sunlight from the left; Earth in the center; the Moon at new moon (between Earth and the Sun) and at full moon (behind Earth).

9. 7.

   Ren asks the club leader why a solar eclipse can happen only at new moon. Which answer is right?

   • The Moon must be behind Earth, in its shadow
   • The Moon is full and bright then
   • The Moon must be between the Sun and Earth
   • Each new moon brings an eclipse
10. 8.

    Tala is making a poster of a solar eclipse. Which body goes in the middle of the line-up?

    • The Moon
    • The Sun
    • No body; they form a triangle
    • Earth
11. 9.

    Zee lines up an orange (the Sun), a plum (Earth) and a grape (the Moon) to model a lunar eclipse. Nobody may eat the cast. Which fruit goes in the middle?

    • The grape
    • Any of them, in any order
    • The orange
    • The plum
12. 10.

    not yet in order. Esme uses the same orange, plum and grape to model a solar eclipse instead. Which fruit goes in the middle now?

    • The orange
    • The grape
    • The biggest fruit
    • The plum