Learning Path
Question & Answer1
Understand Question2
Review Options3
Learn Explanation4
Explore TopicChoose the Best Answer
A
The Moon's orbit is tilted relative to Earth's orbit, so it only occasionally aligns perfectly with the Sun.
B
Solar eclipses are only possible during the full moon phase, which is why they are rare.
C
The Sun's position changes every month, making it impossible for the Moon to block it regularly.
D
Solar eclipses can only happen when the Earth is at a specific distance from the Sun.
Understanding the Answer
Let's break down why this is correct
Answer
Solar eclipses only happen when the Moon is directly between the Sun and Earth, which requires the Moon to be on the same side of Earth as the Sun and also in the same orbital plane. Because the Moon’s orbit is tilted about 5 degrees to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, most of the time it passes either above or below the Sun from our viewpoint. Therefore the alignment needed for a solar eclipse occurs only at the two “nodes” where the orbits intersect, and that happens roughly every six months, not every month. For example, in 2024 the eclipse on April 8 occurred when the Moon was at a node, but the next month’s full moon was too far north to cover the Sun.
Detailed Explanation
The Moon’s path around the Earth is tilted about five degrees from the line that holds the Sun, Earth, and Moon together. Other options are incorrect because This mixes up the phases of the Moon; It assumes the Sun moves a lot each month, but the Sun is so far away that its direction hardly shifts.
Key Concepts
Eclipses
Orbital Mechanics
Phases of the Moon
Topic
Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Difficulty
medium level question
Cognitive Level
understand
Practice Similar Questions
Test your understanding with related questions
1
Question 1What is the primary reason that solar and lunar eclipses do not occur every month?
easyAstronomy
Practice
2
Question 2During a solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Earth. What is the underlying reason for this phenomenon occurring?
mediumAstronomy
Practice
3
Question 3During a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, causing the shadow of the Moon to fall on the Earth. This phenomenon can be described as the alignment of the Earth, Moon, and _____.
mediumAstronomy
Practice
Ready to Master More Topics?
Join thousands of students using Seekh's interactive learning platform to excel in their studies with personalized practice and detailed explanations.