During a total lunar eclipse, which of the following are true?
I. The photosphere of the sun is obscured by the moon.
II. The moon is in Earth s umbra.
III. The moon is new.
IV. The moon is full.
A) I, III
B) II, IV
C) I, II, III
D) II, III
E) I, II, III, IV

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon is in Earth's umbra, which is why it appears reddish. This means that statement II is true. The moon cannot be new during a lunar eclipse, as a new moon is when it is between the sun and Earth, and a lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is between the sun and moon. Therefore, statement III is false. The moon is actually full during a lunar eclipse, which is why it is fully in Earth's shadow. This means that statement IV is true. The photosphere of the sun is not obscured by the moon during a lunar eclipse, as the sun is on the opposite side of Earth. Therefore, statement I is false. Thus, only statements II and IV are true, which corresponds to choice B. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon is in Earth's umbra (II) and is full (IV). The photosphere of the sun is not obscured by the moon (I), as it would be during a solar eclipse. The moon is also not new (III), as a new moon occurs when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, whereas during a lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the sun and the moon. Therefore, the best choice is B, which includes II and IV, the only true statements about a total lunar eclipse.

During a Total Lunar Eclipse, Which of the Following Are