20110926

Astronomy quiz question: partial solar eclipse

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, fall semester 2011
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Consider a side view of the moon and Earth and their shadow zones, and the location of an observer on Earth. The sun is located to the left, far off of the page.


What type of eclipse is seen by the observer?
(A) An annular solar eclipse.
(B) A partial solar eclipse.
(C) A total solar eclipse.
(D) A total lunar eclipse.
(E) A partial lunar eclipse.

Correct answer: (B).

Since the observer is in the penumbra of the moon, the moon will not completely cover the sun, and the observer is observing a partial solar eclipse (assuming that this is a side of the moon and Earth, such that the moon's orbital motion comes out of the plane of the page).

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz02sHDw
(A) : 1 students
(B) : 20 students
(C) : 7 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 3 students

Success level: 69% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.70

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