Creating Eclipses in the Classroom

During an eclipse, the Sun or the Moon seems to disappear, these are called solar or lunar eclipses, respectively. These astronomical phenomena have been shrouded in myth and legend throughout history. How do they happen?

In this activity, explore these fascinating natural phenomena with an easy-to-build model and learn about the movement of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon. 

For each model, you will need:

• Adhesive tape
• Glue
• Two cardboard tubes (e.g. empty toilet paper rolls)
• Scissors (suitable for cutting cardboard)
• Aluminium foil
• Sturdy but bendable wire (35–50 cm long)
• Styrofoam ball (roughly the size of a large orange)
• Ping pong ball (or a Styrofoam ball of a similar size)
• Large strip of cardboard (about 60 cm long and no less than 20 cm wide)
• Stack of books or magazines

• Learn about the motion of the Earth, the Sun and the Moon relative to each other.
• Build and use a model of the Sun, Moon and Earth system to discover how and why eclipses happen.

Lunar Eclipses: Although the Moon often shines brightly in the night sky, it isn't actually emitting its own light, it simply reflects light from the Sun. The shape of the Moon that you see depends on both where you are on Earth and at which point the Moon is in its 28-day (one month) cycle around Earth.

Every month the Moon completes a cycle, starting as a complete circle (the full moon), gradually shrinking night-by-night until it has become invisible (the new moon), then swelling to a full circle again. These stages are called the 'phases of the Moon' (see Image 1).

When the Moon is on the far side of the Earth from the Sun, the three bodies do not lie in a straight line; instead, the Moon is located slightly above the Earth and so it can still be illuminated by the Sun, so we see a full moon.

However, on average 1.5 times a year, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon is completely hidden in the Earth’s shadow – we call this a 'lunar eclipse. As the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow (called the 'umbra') and travels through it, it takes on a beautiful dim red glow. As the Moon crosses in or out of the umbra, observers can see the curve of Earth partially shadowing the Moon. This partial shadow is called the penumbra. (see Image 2)

Solar Eclipses: Unlike lunar eclipses, solar eclipses are very rare, occurring on average just once every two years across the entire globe. Most people will never see one because solar eclipses are only visible from relatively small areas of Earth at any one time. Solar and lunar eclipses have somewhat different causes; during a solar eclipse, we are in shadow — the Moon passes exactly in front of the Sun and casts a shadow on Earth. The Moon is much smaller than the Sun, meaning this shadow will only be seen from a small area of the Earth.

To understand this, hold your thumb in front of the Sun so that it is completely covered. Your eyes are in the shadow of your thumb, but it does not affect the person standing next to you, as they are not in the same shadow. The Sun looks normal to them.

Once the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun, it appears as a black disk in the sky surrounded by a 'crown of fire'. That fire is actually the Sun behind the Moon. Once the Moon passes by, the full, burning light of the Sun returns (see Images 3–5).

Step 1

Divide the class into groups of three or four. Give each group the materials to make their own model of the Sun-Moon-Earth system.

Step 2

Take one cardboard tube and make a series of small (2-cm deep), even, vertical cuts around the circumference of each end.

Step 3

Bend the cut pieces out at each end and then stand the tube upright. The cut edges should fan out like a flower (Image 6).

Step 4

Using adhesive tape, fasten one end of the cardboard tube to the cardboard strip to create the base of the model. The tube should be at least 30 cm from one end of the cardboard strip.

Step 5

Using tape or glue, attach the larger ball to the top of the tube. This ball represents the Earth (Image 7).

Step 6

Cover the smaller ball with aluminium foil, with the shiny side on the outside. This will be the Moon.

Step 7

Insert one end of the wire into the top of Earth so that the wire is vertical.

Step 8

Measure approximately a finger’s length along the wire and bend the wire here at a right angle, creating a horizontal arm.

Step 9

About halfway between the Earth and the far end of the cardboard strip, measure a finger’s length along the wire and bend it again. This time bend it downwards at a right angle, towards the cardboard base.

Step 10

Insert the other end of the wire into the "Moon". The Moon’s equator should be at the same height as the Earth’s equator (Image 8).

Step 11

Balance the torch on a stack of books or magazines at the opposite end of the cardboard strip from the “Earth”. Make sure the height is correct: the middle of the torch beam should hit Earth’s equator.

If the beam is too diffuse, attach the second cardboard tube to the end of the torch to direct the light. Ensure that the beam directly hits the nearest half of the Earth and the Moon. If the beam is not bright enough, move the stack of books closer (Image 9).

Step 12

Now students will use their models.

Step 13

Begin by asking your students if they have ever seen an eclipse. Was it a solar or a lunar eclipse? Explain that solar eclipses are much less common than lunar eclipses, but today they will be lucky enough to see both!

Step 14

Create a solar eclipse: Stand facing the torch and swing the wire around until the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth; if necessary, dim the lights in the room. The Moon is now positioned between the Earth and the Sun and is blocking the “sunshine” for some people on Earth. Point out that only people directly in the shadow will see a complete eclipse of the Sun. You can show how the shadow moves by slowly rotating the wire (Image 10).

Step 15

Now create a lunar eclipse: Stand facing the torch and swing the wire so that the Moon is behind the Earth. No light should be hitting the Moon: the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow over the entire Moon. Explain that unlike during the solar eclipse, the entire "night" side of Earth can see the lunar eclipse (Image 11).

Resources

For a video explanation of why the Moon looks red during a lunar eclipse, see:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13787011

For more information about solar eclipses, see:

www.mreclipse.com/Special/SEprimer.html

For a comparison of lunar and solar eclipses, see:

www.moonconnection.com/lunar_vs_solar.phtml

Follow-up questions

Ages 6–10

During a lunar eclipse:

• Which bright object is in shadow? Which object is casting the shadow?
• Does everyone in the world see it? Who can’t see a lunar eclipse?

During a solar eclipse:

• Which bright object is covered up? Which object is blocking the sunlight?
• Does everyone in the world see it? Who can’t see a solar eclipse?
• Draw a picture showing the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun during a solar eclipse. (Use the model to help.)
• Do you see lunar eclipses at night or during the day? What about solar eclipses?
• Why are solar eclipses so much rarer than lunar eclipses?

Ages 10–14

• During a solar eclipse, what would you see if you stood on the Moon and looked at the Earth?
• What is the phase of the Moon during a solar eclipse? During a lunar eclipse?
• Why don’t we see a lunar eclipse during every full moon?
• Do other planets have eclipses?