Questions on the Earth in Space

Q18. On 11th August 1999 there was a partial eclipse visible from the UK. The shadow of the Moon passed over part of the Earth.

(a) The diagram below shows the Moon, the Moon's shadow and the Earth. not to scale On the diagram, draw an arrow pointing towards where the Sun must be.

1 mark

(b) At about midday the Moon's shadow will pass over Cornwall in England. Where, in the sky, is the Sun at midday?

A: towards the North

B: towards the West

C: towards the East

D: towards the South

1 mark

(c) The map shows the shape of the Moon's shadow and the path it will take across Cornwall.

The Moon's shadow will take about 2 minutes to move across a house in Falmouth. It will take less than 2 minutes to move across a house in Padstow.

Explain why it will take less time for the Moon's shadow to move across a house in Padstow than to move across one in Falmouth.

1 mark

(d) Why does the Moon's shadow move over the surface of the Earth?

1 mark

Maximum 4 marks