Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Objective

Model solar and lunar eclipses to understand their mechanics and differences.

Materials

• Styrofoam balls (Sun, Earth, Moon)
• Skewers or sticks
• Flashlight
• Dark room
• Notebook for observations

Instructions

1. Attach the Styrofoam balls to skewers or sticks to represent the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
2. Darken the room and use a flashlight as the Sun’s light source.
3. Position the Earth and Moon between the Sun (flashlight) to simulate a solar eclipse.
4. Observe how the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth.
5. Position the Earth between the Sun and Moon to simulate a lunar eclipse.
6. Observe how the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.
7. Document each eclipse in your notebook, noting the differences between solar and lunar eclipses.
8. Analyze your findings to understand the mechanics of each type of eclipse.
9. Present your observations in a report, explaining the differences and similarities between solar and lunar eclipses.