Science General · Geography

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena

1,884 Questions

This section provides practice questions on astronomy and celestial phenomena, focusing on eclipses, planetary movements, and tides. These concepts are commonly tested in general science sections of various competitive exams. Use this hub to practice questions related to the Earth, Moon, and solar system dynamics.

Solar and lunar eclipsesEquinoxes and solsticesPlanetary movementsOcean tidesCoriolis effectMeteor showers

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena Questions

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

What is solar eclipse?

  1. When Earth, Moon and Sun form a straight line

  2. When Earth, Moon and Sun form a Cross line

  3. When Earth, Moon form a straight line

  4. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Solar eclipse is the event where the light form the Sun is blocked by the Moon, when Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and all three forms a straight line.

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

Why should you not see the solar eclipse directly?

  1. Sun rays are very strong and may cause damage to eyes

  2. Sun rays are weak and may cause strain on your eyes

  3. Sun rays are very strong and may cause a burn on skin.

  4. Sunlight refracts in eclipse and intensity is increased
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Direct rays of sun are very strong. 

Looking at it directly may cause severe damage to eyes because of high intensity.

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

When does total solar eclipse occur?                     

  1. When Moon completely covers Sun as seen from earth

  2. When Sun completely covers Moon as seen from earth

  3. When Earth completely covers Sun as seen from moon

  4. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth, and an umbra is cast by the Moon on the Earth's surface.

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

Which eclipse is known as when Earth's umbra-central dark part shadow obscures all of Moon's visible surface?

  1. Hybrid

  2. Total

  3. Partial

  4. Penumbral
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Earth cast a shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse. Earth's shadow are of 2 types: umbra and penumbra. The darkest or the total shadow is the umbra while the partial shadow is the penumbra. Total eclipse occurs when the Moon is the umbra region.

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

When does lunar eclipse occurs?

  1. When Earth comes between Sun and moon

  2. When Sun comes between Earth and moon

  3. When Moon comes between Sun and Earth

  4. When Earth comes between Star and moon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Lunar eclipse occurs when Moon pass from the behind the Earth or when Earth is betwen the Sun and the Moon. Earth blocks the light of the Sun that would have fallen on the Moon.

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium


State whether the given statement is True or False :

A partial lunar eclipse can be observed when only part of the Moon's visible surface is obscured by the Earth's umbra. 

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Earth cast a shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse. Earth's shadow are of 2 types: umbra and penumbra. The darkest or the total shadow is the umbra while the partial shadow is the penumbra. Partial lunar eclipse occurs when a part of the Moon is in the umbra region.

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

Fill in the blank:

Lunar eclipse is a _______ phenomenon.

  1. common

  2. less common

  3. impossible

  4. regular
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra (shadow). This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a full moon. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes.
Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. A lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place, due to the smaller size of the Moon's shadow. 
Every year, there are at least two lunar eclipses and as many as five, although total lunar eclipses are significantly less common. 

Multiple choice physics effects of light eclipses elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium

A solar eclipse is caused when the -

  1. sun comes between the earth and the moon

  2. moon comes between the sun and the earth

  3. earth comes between the sun and the moon

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A solar eclipse is caused when moon comes between sun and earth and moon casts a shadow over earth. 

Ans: moon comes between sun and earth