It is a well known fact that during a total solar eclipse the disk of the moon almost completely covers the disk of the Sun. From this fact and from the information you can gather from examples 2.3 and 2.4, determine the approximate diameter of the moon.

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Solution

The position of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during a lunar eclipse is shown in the given figure.

Distance of the Moon from the Earth = 3.84 × 10⁸ m

Distance of the Sun from the Earth = 1.496 × 10¹¹ m

Diameter of the Sun = 1.39 × 10⁹ m

It can be observed that ΔTRS and ΔTPQ are similar. Hence, it can be written as:

Hence, the diameter of the Moon is 3.57× 10⁶ m.

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Similar questions

Q. It is a well known fact that during a total solar eclipse the disk of the moon almost completely covers the disk of the Sun. From this fact and from the information you can gather from examples 2.3 and 2.4, determine the approximate diameter of the moon.

Q. Total Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun, as seen from the earth.

Consider the following statements:

1. Solar eclipse occurs during a new moon.

2. Lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon.

3. During a total solar eclipse, the entire sun is invisible from all parts of the earth.

Approximate the gravitational force exerted on the moon by the earth and the sun. A) during a solar eclipse and B) during a lunar eclipse. Given the mass of sun = 2 x 10³⁰ kg mass of earth 6 x 10²⁴ kg mass of the moon 7.4 x 10²² kg radius of earth's orbit around the sun 1.5 x 10¹¹m and radius of moon's orbit around the earth 3.8 x 10⁸ m.

Q. What is order of the Sun, Moon and Earth during a solar eclipse?

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