Astronomy Practice Exam

What happens during a solar eclipse?

1. The sun is blocked by the Earth

2. The moon passes between the Earth and the sun

3. The Earth passes between the moon and the sun

4. The sun appears larger than the moon

The correct answer is: The moon passes between the Earth and the sun

During a solar eclipse, the event occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun. This alignment causes the moon to temporarily block out the sun's light, casting a shadow on certain areas of the Earth. As a result, observers in the path of the eclipse will experience a significant dimming or complete disappearance of sunlight, which can lead to a breathtaking view of the solar corona—a phenomenon that can only be seen during a total solar eclipse. This alignment can result in various types of solar eclipses, such as total, partial, and annular eclipses, depending on the specific positions of the Earth, moon, and sun. To understand why the other options don't describe a solar eclipse: The option regarding the Earth blocking the sun refers to a lunar eclipse instead, where the Earth comes between the moon and the sun. The option about the Earth passing between the moon and the sun also pertains to a lunar eclipse. Lastly, the statement about the sun appearing larger than the moon doesn't accurately describe the phenomenon; during a solar eclipse, the moon, being closer to Earth, appears to cover the sun during totality, even though the sun's actual diameter is larger.