Home
Class 11
PHYSICS
Describe the measurement of Earth's shad...

Describe the measurement of Earth's shadow (umbra) radius during total lunar eclipse.

Text Solution

Verified by Experts

Lunar eclipse and measurements of shadow of Earth: On January 31, 2018 there was a total lunar eclipse which was observed from various place including Tamil Nadu. It is possible to measure the radius of shadow of the Earth at the point where the Moon crosses.
When the Moon is inside the umbra shadow, it appears red in colour. As soon as the Moon exit from the umbra shadow, it appears in crescent shape.
By finding the apparent radii of the Earth.s umbra shadow and the Moon, the radio of the ratio of the these radii can be calculated.
The apparent radius of Earth.s umbra shadow = `R_(s) = 13.2 ` cm
The apparent radius of the Moon =`R_(m) = 5.15 `cm
The ratio `(R_(s))/(R_(m))approx 2.56`
The radius of Moon`R_(m) = 1737` km
The radius of the Earth.s umbra shadow is`R_(s) = 2.56 xx1737 " km =" cong 4446 ` km
The correct radius is 4610 km
The percentage of error in the calculation= `(4610-4446)/(4610) xx100 = 3.5 % `
The error will reduce of the pictures taken using a high quality telescope are used.
Promotional Banner

Topper's Solved these Questions

  • GRAVITATION

    FULL MARKS|Exercise O|2 Videos
  • GRAVITATION

    FULL MARKS|Exercise TEXTUAL EVALUATION SOLVED (IV. Conceptual Questions)|6 Videos
  • GRAVITATION

    FULL MARKS|Exercise TEXTUAL EVALUATION SOLVED (II. Short Answer Questions)|15 Videos
  • EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER MARCH 2019

    FULL MARKS|Exercise PART-IV|10 Videos
  • HEAT AND THERMODYNAMICS

    FULL MARKS|Exercise ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SOLVED (Numerical Problems)|16 Videos

Similar Questions

Explore conceptually related problems

The radius of the Earth was measured by

A silver ball of radius 4.8 cm is suspended by a thread in a vacuum chamber, Ultraviolet light of wavelength 200nm is incident on the ball for some time during which a total light energy of 1.0 xx 10^-7 J falls on the surface. Assuming that on the average one photon out of every ten thousand is able to eject a photoelectron, find the electric potential at the surface of the ball assuming zero potential at infinity. What is the potential at the centre of the ball?

Draw and describe the total water on earth by pie chart.

A satellite of mass m is orbiting the earth (of radius R) at a height h from its surface. T he total energy of the satellite in terms of g_0 ,the value of acceleration due to gravity at the earth 's surface ,is

A satellite is revolving in a stable orbit of radius r with orbital velocity v_(0) around the earth. The time period of the satellite is T, angular momentum L and its total energy is E. Then which one of the following statement is not correct?

A satellite moves in a circle around the Earth, the radius of this circle is equal to one half of the radius of the Moon's orbit. The satellite completes one revolution in ........ lunar month.

The weight of a body is measured on planet Earth as M . When it is taken to a planet of radius half that of the Earth then its value will be ___________ .