ST.

LOUISE DE MARILLAC COLLEGE OF SORSOGON

GUBAT CAMPUS
FORMERLY: ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY
COGON, GUBAT, SOROSOGON

Time Frame: Week 5

Module 5 ECLIPSE

Name: _________________________________________ Grade & Section: _________________

Learner`s Target

 I can explain how solar and lunar eclipses occur using models.
 I can collect, record, and report data on the beliefs and practices of the community in relation to eclipses.
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever witnessed a solar eclipse? A lunar eclipse? What beliefs and practices do Filipinos and people
from other countries have about eclipses?

Recall what you have learned in the previous grade levels about the phases of the moon. During a new moon
phase, the moon is between Earth and the sun; Earth is between the sun and the moon during a full moon phase.

This module deals with eclipses, its types, and beliefs and practices of people from different parts of the world
regarding eclipses.

Are you ready? Lets’ start with the activity below. Good luck and enjoy!

EXPLORE
This section will allow you to recall, unlock and have an idea about the lesson.

What is eclipse?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Have you been experience watching or witness an eclipse? If yes, how was your experience?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think eclipse occur?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___

FIRM- UP

ECLIPSES

Some objects are opaque; that is, they do not allow light to pass through them. If an opaque is placed in the path
of light, a dark area forms behind the object. This is called a shadow. When a pole is in front of a light source, as shown in
figure 1-2, a shadow is formed. Two parts of the shadow are observed – the umbra and penumbra. The inner darker part of

SLMCS Gubat Campus Learning Module in Science 7 Page 1

the shadow where light is totally blocked is called umbra. The light portion of the shadow where light is partially blocked
is called the penumbra.

An eclipse occurs because of the relative position of Earth, the sun, and the moon. As Earth revolves around the
sun, the moon also revolves around the Earth. From this, two possible scenarios occur:
(1) the moon is between Earth and the sun; or
(2) Earth is between the sun and the moon.

Because the moon and Earth are opaque to sunlight, when either of them is between the other and the sun, the
middle object blocks the sun’s rays and a shadow is formed.

Most of the time, eclipses do not occur because the plane of the moon’s orbit is inclined to Earth’s orbit about 5°.
As a result, the shadow from Earth or the shadow from the moon usually falls above as below the other body. This is
either too high or too low to form an eclipse.

Figure 5-1. The parts of a shadow of

a pole: umbra and penumbra

SOLAR ECLIPSE

If the moon is between Earth and the sun, the moon blocks the sun’s rays and the shadow of the moon falls on
Earth’s surface. This phenomenon is called solar eclipse. There are three types of solar eclipse: total, partial, and annular.

Since the orbit of the moon around Earth is elliptical, the moon is located in one of the foci; hence, at times, it is
closer to earth, and at times, it is farther from Earth. When the moon is relatively closer to earth, its umbra touches a small
area of Earth’s surface. Observers on Earth within this area will see a total solar eclipse (figure 5 -2a). The total solar
eclipse happens when the moon exactly covers the sun’s photosphere (the sun’s visible surface).

Regions on Earth where the penumbra falls experience partial solar eclipse. This region is larger than where the
umbra falls. A partial solar eclipse (figure 5 – 2b) therefore happens more often than a total solar eclipse. When viewed on
Earth, only a portion of the sun is blocked by the moon.

If the eclipse occurs when the moon is relatively far from the Earth, the umbra may not reach Earth’s surface at
all. In this case, anyone within this region will see an annular eclipse (figure 5 – 2c). In annular eclipse, the moon’s disk
is seen to be surrounded with a very thin ring of sunlight called annulus, barely seen around the moon. But observers in
the penumbra shadow will see a partial eclipse of the sun.

Figure 5 – 2. The three

types of solar eclipse.
(a) in total solar eclipse,
the moon blocks the sun
and casts a shadow on
Earth. (b) In partial
solar eclipse, the
penumbra of the moon’s
shadow falls on Earth.
(c) In annular eclipse, a
thin ring of sunlight
surrounds the moon.

SLMCS Gubat Campus Learning Module in Science 7 Page 2

 LUNAR ECLIPSE

Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves within the shadow of Earth. This is possible during the full moon
phase. There are three types of lunar eclipse: penumbral lunar eclipse, partial lunar eclipse, and total lunar eclipse.

If the moon passes only through the penumbra of Earth’s shadow, a penumbral lunar eclipse (figure 5 – 3a)
occurs. Penumbral lunar eclipse is the most common type of lunar eclipse. However, it is difficult to notice because the
full moon darkens only slightly.

During a partial lunar eclipse (figure 5 – 3b), only a part of the moon passes through the umbra. The rest of the
full moon passes through the penumbra. This happens because the alignment of the sun, the moon, and the Earth is not
perfect.

If the sun, Earth, and the moon are nearly perfectly aligned, the moon passes through Earth’s umbra. Observers on
Earth see the full moon being covered by earth’s shadow. This event is total lunar eclipse (figure 5 – 3c). Slowly, the
moon’s disk is being eclipsed by the shadow of Earth, until such time that the moon is entirely in the umbra of Earth’s
shadow. This is the totality. Then, the moon slowly becomes visible again until such time that the moon is “full” again.

Figure 5 – 3. The three

(a) types of lunar eclipse.
(a) in penumbral lunar
eclipse, the moon passes
through the penumbra
of Earth’s shadow. (b)
In partial lunar eclipse,
(b)
only part of the moon
passes through the
umbra. (c) In total lunar
eclipse, the moon passes
entirely through the
(c) umbra.

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ABOUT ECLIPSES

People from different parts of the Earth have watched eclipses with a mixture of fear and fascination. Expeditions
have been set up just to observe eclipses. Teams of professional and amateur astronomers have gone to different locations
to witness such events. A total solar eclipse is a very exciting phenomenon. People from all walks of life look forward to
watching this event.

Since the ancient times, people have been fascinated by eclipses. In the past, there were different speculations
about what an eclipse was and why it occurred. Different cultures also had different stories in which people tried to
explain eclipses. They also had different beliefs and practices about eclipses.

 Ancient Chinese cultures believed that a very hungry dragon could devour an entire sun or moon, so they had to
divert it from its task by beating gongs and drums accompanied with dances.
 The Ainu of Japan believed that when an eclipse occurs, the moon or the sun, whichever is eclipsed, is ill. This
belief is the same as that of some North American tribes.
 The Romans never held public assembly during an eclipse. They felt terror at its occurrence. The Navajo Indians
of Arizona also do not hold meetings during eclipse.
 Ancient people in the Northern Pole believed that the sun and the moon leave the sky during eclipses to see how
everything was going on Earth.
 An Assyrian leader would offer a prayer, saying that an evil omen followed the eclipse of the moon, and that there
was struggle between heaven and evil affecting his palace and the people.
 In Tahiti, people used to smile during an eclipse because, unlike the others who disliked eclipses, they liked
seeing the moon and the sun together believing that the two is making more stars.

SLMCS Gubat Campus Learning Module in Science 7 Page 3

 Up to this day, in the Philippines, there are still some who are influenced by their peculiar beliefs about eclipses.
Some Filipinos still believe that eclipses are supernatural events that accompany mysticism and ominous events associated
with death and bad luck. However, through the effort of some Filipino trying to bring astronomy close to the common
people, more and more people realize the truth about eclipses: they manifest the relative positions of Earth, the moon, and
the sun.

DEEPEN
1. When can a solar eclipse happen?
a. Daytime only c. Noontime only
b. Nighttime only d. Any time of the day
2. When light shines on the moon, light is not allowed to pass through it. Instead, it is reflected. The moon is a/ an
____________________.
a. luminous c. translucent
b. opaque d. transparent
3. If the moon is exactly between Earth and the sun, what phenomenon occurs?
a. full moon c. lunar eclipse
b. half moon d. solar eclipse
4. If a certain place experiences a partial solar eclipse, then that place is in the ___________________________.
a. umbra of Earth’s shadow c. umbra of the moon’s shadow
b. penumbra of Earth’s shadow d. penumbra of the moon’s shadow
5. which statement is not true about the moon?
a. It is opaque.
b. It orbits the sun directly.
c. It shines because it reflects light from the sun.
d. The moon’s orbit around Earth is slightly tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the sun.
6. Immediately after total lunar eclipse, what phase of the moon is observed on Earth?
a. crescent
b. full moon
c. gibbous
d. new moon
For items 7 and 8, determine what eclipse is being observed on Earth.
7.

a. Partial lunar c. Total lunar

b. Partial solar d. Total solar

8.

a. Partial lunar c. Total lunar

b. Partial solar d. Total solar
9. The penumbra of the moon’s shadow falls on Earth, so only part of the sun is blocked from view of Earth’s
observers. What type of eclipse happens?
a. Partial lunar c. Total lunar
b. Partial solar d. Total solar
10. Why do eclipses happen?
a. The moon is opaque.
b. The moon is not always between Earth and the sun.
c. The moon, the sun, and earth are not always in a straight line.
d. The plane of the moon’s orbit around Earth is on the same plane as Earth’s orbit around the sun.

TRANSFER

SLMCS Gubat Campus Learning Module in Science 7 Page 4

 In your own word, explain how a solar and lunar eclipse happens.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Task:
Interview your parents, grandparents or your neighbors about the different beliefs and practices about
eclipses. List at least 5 beliefs and practices.

REFERENCES AND WEBSITE LINKS USED IN THIS MODULE

References:
 Science and Technology 7 published by Vibal Group, Inc.
 Grade 7 Learners Material by DepEd
Websites:

SLMCS Gubat Campus Learning Module in Science 7 Page 5