Solar and Lunar Eclipse - size of moon

samona

If during a solar eclipse the moon tapers one moon diameter, wouldn't a lunar eclipse taper one earth diameter?

davenn

hi samona

what do you mean by tapers one moon diameter ?
you do realise that the moon is a lot closer to the earth than the sun is ?

Dave

samona

I meant the shadow of the moon tapers 1 moon diameter on the earth during a solar eclipse. My physics book says that the earth's shadow on the moon during a lunar eclipse also tapers 1 moon diameter.

My physics book says that if the moon's shadow tapers 1 moon diameter on the earth during a solar eclipse, then the earth's shadow tapers one moon diameter during a lunar eclipse. Therefore, since the earth's shadow is 2.5 times wider than the moon, if you take into account that the earth's shadow tapers 1 moon diameter than the earth is 3.5(2.5 + 1) times larger than the moon.

My confusion is that if the moon's shadow tapers 1 moon diameter, why does the earth's shadow also taper 1 moon diameter? Wouldn't the earth's shadow taper one earth diameter?