During a lunar eclipse, what is the penumbra?(1 point)
Responses
It is the part of the moon’s shadow where the sun is only partially blocked.
It is the part of the moon’s shadow where the sun is only partially blocked.
It is the part of Earth’s shadow where the sun is only partially blocked.
It is the part of Earth’s shadow where the sun is only partially blocked.
It is the part of the moon’s shadow where the sun is completely blocked.
It is the part of the moon’s shadow where the sun is completely blocked.
It is the part of Earth’s shadow where the sun is completely blocked.
It is the part of Earth’s shadow where the sun is only partially blocked.
The penumbra during a lunar eclipse is the part of Earth's shadow where the sun is only partially blocked.
The correct answer is: "It is the part of Earth's shadow where the sun is only partially blocked."
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth casts two types of shadows: the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the darker, central part of the shadow where the Sun is completely blocked. The penumbra, on the other hand, is the lighter, outer part of the shadow where the Sun is only partially blocked.
To understand this concept, imagine yourself standing in a room with a single light source, such as a lamp. If you stand directly in front of the lamp, you will be in the umbra and will experience complete darkness. However, if you stand slightly to the side, you will be in the penumbra and will only experience partial darkness as the light from the lamp is partially blocked by your body.
During a lunar eclipse, when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow, there are three phases: the penumbral phase, the partial eclipses, and the total eclipse. In the penumbral phase, the Moon enters Earth's penumbra and only experiences partial darkening, which is why the correct answer is "It is the part of Earth’s shadow where the sun is only partially blocked."