Question

Eclipses occur due to which optical phenomena?
1. Refraction
2. Reflction
3. Diffraction
4. Rectilinear propagation
5. No option is correct

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Rectilinear propagation

The correct answer is Rectilinear propagation.

• Eclipses occur due to rectilinear propagation.

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• An eclipse takes place when one heavenly body such as a moon or planet moves into the shadow of another heavenly body.
• There are two types of eclipses on Earth: an eclipse of the moon and an eclipse of the sun.

Lunar Eclipse

• Earth blocks the sunlight that normally is reflected by the moon in a lunar eclipse.
• A lunar eclipse can occur only when the moon is full.

Solar Eclipse

• When the moon orbits Earth, it moves between the sun and Earth.
• When this happens, the moon blocks the light of the sun from reaching Earth