Question

The eclipse achieves totality only in limited geographical regions because _______________________.

• A. size of the shadow of the moon on the earth is small compared to the cross-section of the earth
• B. earth is not a smooth flat surface, but has elevations and depressions
• C. trajectories of the earth around the sun and the moon around the earth are not perfect circles
• D. sun rays can reach most of peripheral regions of the shadow of the moon due to atmospheric refraction

Answer 1

The correct option is A size of the shadow of the moon on the earth is small compared to the cross-section of the earth

• Size of the moon is roughly one-fourth of the size of earth, thus the moon casts a smaller shadow which falls upon a limited portion of the earth. Thus solar eclipse achieves totality only in a limited portion on Earth. Hence option A is correct.
• Though it is true that earth is not a smooth surface but it does not contribute significantly to the limited totality of the solar eclipse, hence option B is incorrect.