Why Does the Moon Take 6 Hours to Pass Through the Earth's Penumbra?

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Homework Help Overview

This discussion revolves around an astronomy homework question concerning the duration it takes for the Moon to pass through the Earth's penumbra during an eclipse. The original poster presents a scenario involving the dimensions of the penumbra and the relative speed of the Moon.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster explores the reasons for the time discrepancy, considering factors such as the Earth's motion and the Moon's trajectory. Participants discuss the implications of the Moon's diameter and how it affects the timing of the transit through the penumbra.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the assumptions made regarding the Moon's movement and the geometry involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need to account for the Moon's diameter in the calculations, indicating a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of the problem, including the need to consider both the Moon's speed and its size in relation to the penumbra. There is an acknowledgment of potential misunderstandings regarding the setup of the problem.

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This is an astronomy homework question that my classmates and I are having an awful time with.

If the penumbra of the Earth’s shadow is 16,000 km across, and if the Moon moves 3400 km/hr with respect to the shadow, why does it take 6 hours instead of only 5 hours to get completely through the penumbra?

We first thought that the extra hour was due to the Earth's revolution around the Sun pushing the edge of the penumbra ahead so the moon would have to play "catch up" with that.
But now that I am re-reading the question, it says that the moon moves "with respect to" the shadow so I am thinking that the Earth's rotation has already been factored in.

The other theory is that the extra hour would be due to the moon traveling in an arc instead of a straight line through the penumbra, and that would account for the time delta.

Are either of these close? Thanks in advance for your help.
 
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Have you considered how the diameter of the moon figures into this?
 
Not at all - but I think what you're saying is that one edge of the moon has to enter and the other edge has to completely pass through before the transit is complete? I guess the problem is we have been treating it like a speck starting on one edge and finishing at the other edge instead of calculating additional time for entry and exit.Which I think would be radius in and radius out - or a diameter's length of additional space to cross?
 
Thank you both so much. Worked like a charm - I have about 5.73 hours for the moon to get in, get through, and get out.
 

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