AFOQT Practice Test

What happens during a solar eclipse?

1. The moon is directly between the Earth and the sun

2. The Earth is directly between the sun and the moon

3. The sun is completely blocked by the Earth

4. The stars are obscured by the moon

The correct answer is: The moon is directly between the Earth and the sun

During a solar eclipse, the phenomenon occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, causing the moon to obscure the sun's light. This alignment results in the moon casting a shadow on the Earth, which can cause a complete, partial, or annular eclipse depending on the specific positions and distances involved. Understanding this alignment clarifies why the other options do not accurately describe a solar eclipse. The Earth being between the sun and the moon refers to a lunar eclipse, where the Earth's shadow falls on the moon. The notion of the sun being completely blocked by the Earth also describes a lunar eclipse and not a solar event. Meanwhile, the idea that stars are obscured by the moon doesn't directly relate to the mechanics of an eclipse; in fact, stars remain visible during a solar eclipse, especially in the totality phase, when the sun's light is fully blocked.