Why do lunar and solar eclipses…

Physics Questions

Why do lunar and solar eclipses not occur every month, considering they only happen during full and new moons? Is it because the Earth rotates around its axis faster than the Moon, or that the Moon and Earth only travel through the penumbras, or could it be due to the Moon’s axis not always aligning with Earth’s shadow?

Answer

The reason lunar and solar eclipses do not occur every month is due to D. The moon’s axis does not consistently align with Earth’s shadow. An eclipse is an astronomical event that happens when one celestial body, like the Moon, moves between the Sun and another body such as Earth, blocking or obscuring light. There are primarily two types of eclipses based on this interaction: I. A lunar eclipse happens when Earth stands between the Moon and the Sun, casting a shadow on the Moon. II. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun’s light from reaching a part of Earth. However, these events do not happen monthly because the Moon’s axis is tilted by five degrees, preventing regular alignment with Earth’s shadow. Without this tilt, we would witness eclipses every month.

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