Skip to content
Dabour HubLEARN · PRACTICE · EXPLORESign inStudent

12.3Earth and Space 03. Space

Eclipses and phases of the Moon — Cambridge Checkpoint Science 0893 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 7 parts Lesson 3 of 6 1 quiz

📚 Cambridge Checkpoint Science 0893 Hub / Topical Revision
🩺
100% Curriculum Specification Match Lesson Doctor Verified
The only platform with 100% curriculum specification match and verified interactive question banks.
0%read
Lesson summary

12.3 Eclipses and phases of the Moon — CHECKPOINT - Lower Secondary Science 0893 notes: Explain solar and lunar eclipses and the phases of the Moon.Light — travels in straight lines called rays.Opaque — an opaque object blocks light and forms a dark shadow behind it.The Moon and …

  • Moon's light
  • Orbit time
  • Quarter Moons
  • Solar eclipse
  • Earth's shadow
  • Visibility

Section 1 of 7Light and shadows

  • Light
    • travels in straight lines called rays.
  • Opaque
    • an opaque object blocks light and forms a dark shadow behind it.
    • The Moon and the Earth are opaque.
  • Moon's light
    • the Moon gives out no light of its own and is seen by reflecting sunlight.

Section 2 of 7Phases of the Moon

  • Half lit
    • the Sun always lights half of the Moon, but from Earth we see different amounts of the lit half as the Moon orbits.
  • Orbit time
    • the Moon orbits the Earth in about 28 days, so the cycle of phases repeats each month.
  • New Moon
    • the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth and its lit side faces away from us.
  • Full Moon
    • the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon and the whole lit side faces us.
  • Quarter Moons
    • we see half of the lit side, and the Moon is waxing before full and waning after full.

Section 3 of 7Solar eclipse

  • Solar eclipse
    • happens when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth.
    • The order is Sun, Moon, Earth, and it happens at new Moon.
  • Total solar eclipse
    • seen in the middle of the Moon's shadow (umbra), where all the sunlight is blocked.
  • Partial solar eclipse
    • seen away from the middle of the shadow (penumbra), where only some sunlight is blocked.
  • Daytime
    • a solar eclipse can only be seen in the day because the Sun must be above the horizon.

Section 4 of 7Lunar eclipse

  • Lunar eclipse
    • happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon.
    • The order is Sun, Earth, Moon, and it happens at full Moon.
  • Earth's shadow
    • falls on the Moon, which often looks reddish because the atmosphere bends some light onto it.
  • Visibility
    • it can be seen from anywhere on the night side of the Earth and lasts up to a few hours.

Section 5 of 7Solar and lunar eclipses compared

FeatureSolar eclipseLunar eclipse
OrderSun, Moon, EarthSun, Earth, Moon
Moon phaseNew MoonFull Moon
What is blockedSunlight reaching EarthSunlight reaching the Moon
Seen fromA small area of the EarthThe whole night side
DurationA few minutesUp to a few hours

Section 6 of 7Why eclipses are not monthly

  • Tilted orbit
    • the Moon's orbit is tilted slightly compared with the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
    • Eclipses happen only when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a straight line.

Section 7 of 7Safety

  • Observing
    • never look directly at the Sun, even during an eclipse, because it can permanently damage the eyes.

Last updated:

🌳 Student Search Tree & Frequently Asked Exam Questions: eclipses and phases of the moon

Step-by-step problem-solving guide, mark scheme criteria, and experimental error analysis curated by Dr. Khaled Dabour (DABOURHUB).

Q1: How to solve eclipses and phases of the moon examination questions step-by-step?

1. Identify all given values and convert non-standard units, 2. State the primary formula or physiological/chemical principle, 3. Calculate to 3 significant figures and clearly state units.

Q2: What are the common mistakes and experimental sources of error for eclipses and phases of the moon?

Avoid confusing independent vs dependent variables in practical questions. In calculation questions, double-check percentage change formula: (change / original) × 100.

🔍 Related Student Searches & Problem Trees for eclipses and phases of the moon:
🏷️ how to solve eclipses and phases of the moon step by step🏷️ step by step calculation formula for eclipses and phases of the moon🏷️ common student errors in eclipses and phases of the moon exams🏷️ sources of error and investigation variables for eclipses and phases of the moon🏷️ interactive revision quiz on eclipses and phases of the mooneclipses and phases of the moon questions and answers for igcsewhere to find eclipses and phases of the moon exam questions with answerswhy is eclipses and phases of the moon the answer in this mcqeclipses and phases of the moon 4 mark question with answereclipses and phases of the moon mcq practice with answers and explanationshow to revise eclipses and phases of the moon in one day before the exameclipses and phases of the moon short revision notes with a quizeclipses and phases of the moon explained for igcse studentseclipses and phases of the moon common mistakes students make in examseclipses and phases of the moon sources of error alternative to practicaleclipses and phases of the moon command words for paper 4 answersis eclipses and phases of the moon asked every year in the exam
Where can I find eclipses and phases of the moon past paper questions by topic with the mark scheme?

On DABOURHUB every eclipses and phases of the moon question is grouped by syllabus point and shown with the mark-scheme wording, so you can see exactly which sentence earns the mark instead of scrolling through whole year papers.

What is the most common eclipses and phases of the moon exam question and why do students lose marks on it?

The repeated pattern on Checkpoint Science papers is a short stem that asks you to apply eclipses and phases of the moon and then justify it with a command word (explain, suggest, compare). Marks are lost by stating the fact without linking it back to the wording of the question, so each eclipses and phases of the moon item here is written as a full-mark answer.

Is there an alternative to Save My Exams or Physics and Maths Tutor for eclipses and phases of the moon?

Yes: the eclipses and phases of the moon notes, topical questions and MCQ quizzes on this site follow the same syllabus headings as the official specification, and they open straight from the search result with no download step.

How do I revise eclipses and phases of the moon in two weeks before the exam?

Three passes: read the eclipses and phases of the moon notes once, then do the topical questions and mark them against the mark scheme, then redo only the ones you missed. The quiz on the page gives instant feedback so the third pass takes minutes rather than an evening.