Question

Assertion [A] : Eclipses do not happen on every new moon day.
Reason[R] : Eclipses occur when the Sun, the Earth and the moon are in a straight line and are in the same plane.

Choose the most appropriate answer

• A. [A] is correct, [R] is wrong
• B. [A] and [R] are correct, [R] is the correct explanation of [A]
  
• C. Both [A] and [R] are wrong
  
• D. [A] is incorrect, [R] is correct

Answer 1

The correct option is B [A] and [R] are correct, [R] is the correct explanation of [A]


The orbital path of the earth and that of the moon is not in the same plane. The moon intersects the plane of the earth’s orbit twice during one revolution. On new moon day and full moon day the Earth, the Sun and the moon fall in one line. Even so, the sun, the earth and the moon may not be in the same plane on every new moon or full moon day. Hence, eclipses do not occur on each new moon or full moon day. However, sometimes, on a new moon day or a full moon day, the three fall in one line and are in the same plane. Eclipses occur on such occasions.