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Read the following passage and answer the questions below - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 13 - 2022
Question 13
Read the following passage and answer the questions below. Eclipses are among the most spectacular events in astronomy as they are events we can view without a tele... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read the following passage and answer the questions below - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 13 - 2022
Step 1
Describe what happens during a solar eclipse.
Answer
During a solar eclipse, when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, the Moon blocks the light from the Sun from reaching the Earth. This causes a temporary darkening of the daytime sky, creating a day that can appear as night for a few minutes. The extreme brightness of the Sun's light is replaced by the silhouette of the Moon, causing the surroundings to dim and bringing about a unique observation experience.
Step 2
Lunar eclipses are more common than solar eclipses. Explain why.
Answer
Lunar eclipses are more frequent because the Earth's shadow is larger than the Moon's. When the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, the Earth's shadow can cover a larger area and cast it onto the Moon. In contrast, a solar eclipse can only occur when the Moon is directly between the Earth and the Sun, which happens less frequently due to the smaller size of the Moon's shadow and the need for precise alignment.
Step 3
The light from the Sun is refracted as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. Explain what is meant by refraction.
Answer
Refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one medium into another medium with a different density, such as from air into water or through the Earth's atmosphere. This bending causes the light to change direction, which can lead to phenomena such as the dispersion of light into different colors, as seen during a lunar eclipse.
Step 4
Step 5
The Moon has a mass of 7.3 x 10²² kg and a radius of 1.7 x 10⁶ m. Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon.
Answer
To calculate the acceleration due to gravity (g) on the Moon, we use the formula: where G is the gravitational constant, approximately 6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ N(m/kg)², M is the mass of the Moon, and r is the radius of the Moon.
Plugging in the values:
Step 6
An astronaut weighs less on the Moon than she does on Earth. Distinguish between mass and weight.
Answer
Mass is the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms, and remains constant regardless of location. Weight, however, is the force exerted by gravity on that mass, which varies depending on the gravitational field strength of the celestial body. Therefore, while the astronaut's mass remains the same, her weight decreases on the Moon due to its lower gravity compared to Earth.
Step 7
Infrared radiation lies just beyond red light in the electromagnetic spectrum, with a slightly longer wavelength. How can infrared radiation be detected?
Answer
Infrared radiation can be detected using specialized sensors like thermographic cameras, which pick up infrared wavelengths as heat signatures. Additionally, photodetectors and certain infrared-sensitive materials can respond to infrared radiation, providing readings of its presence.
Step 8