Creating a Model of a Solar Eclipse [Teacher pages]
Solar eclipses happen fairly often but many people never see a solar eclipse because the
eclipse is only visible from very narrow regions of the Earth. During this activity, you and your
team will construct a model that can be used to explain how and why a solar eclipse occurs.
You will need:
 Glue
 1 toilet paper roll
 Styrofoam ball [10-12 cm or 4-5 inch diameter]
 A flashlight
 Scissors
 Ping pong ball
 Wire [35-50 cm or 15 – 20 inches long]
 Ruler
Procedure:
1. You will work with a partner to build your model.
2. Using the scissors, cut a series of tabs in both ends of the toilet paper roll
The tabs will create a base for standing the toilet paper roll on end and will
also create a base to hold the Styrofoam ball. Use the tape to secure the
toilet paper roll to the desk top and to the base of the Styrofoam ball.
Next use books to place the flashlight so that it shines on the Styrofoam ball
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Figure 1: Your model should look like the model shown above.
Thinking about your model:
1. Explain the parts of the model:
a. What does the Styrofoam ball represent? The Styrofoam ball represents the
Earth in this model.
b. What does the flash light represent? The flashlight represents the Sun. It is
placed on the top of a stack of books or magazines to be certain that the light is
even with the Styrofoam Earth.
c. The purpose of this model is to explain a solar eclipse. What structure must be
added to complete the solar eclipse model? The moon must be added to this
model. The ping pong moon can be used to block sunlight that would normally
reach the Earth.
d. How will you use the wire and ping pong ball to complete your model? The wire
should be bent in the following manner to attached the Moon to the Earth in
this model:
i. Insert one end of the wire into the Styrofoam Earth
ii. Place the ruler on the top of the Styrofoam ball to measure 8 cm or 3.5
inches above the ball. Carefully bend the wire at this point to create a
right angle above the ball.
iii. Next, carefully push the other end of the wire into the Styrofoam ball.
iv. About half way along the initial bend in the wire and the ping pong ball,
make a second right angle bend in the wire. The goal is to place the
middle of the Moon at the middle of the Earth. See the image below in
Figure 2
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Figure 2: The completed model of the Earth, Moon and Sun.
v. The wire will attach the Moon and Earth within the model and allow
students to manipulate the model moon and observe what happens when
the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth. Be sure to turn off the
lights and darken the room. Remember that a solar eclipse occurs when
the Moon blocks sunlight
vi. Remind students that a solar eclipse only occurs during the New Moon
phase of the lunar cycle. A new moon occurs each month when the side of
the Moon facing the Earth is in shadow, the opposite side of the Moon is
facing the Sun. If the Moon and the Sun are aligned, the Moon will block
the Sun’s light from the Earth.
Final thoughts:
 Ask students to explain their models to the class and demonstrate how and why an
eclipse occurs. This can be accomplished through a simple jigsaw. Ask each group to
research a different aspect of an eclipse:
o Solar Eclipse Topics:
 Why do solar eclipses occur only during the new moon phase of the lunar
cycle?
 What is the Sun’s corona and how is the corona related to a solar eclipse?
 Will everyone experiencing daytime when a solar eclipse occurs be able to
see the eclipse? Why? Why not?
 Go to the NASA website:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas3/SEatlas2001.GIF and find
the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse, from what regions of the Earth will
people be able to view the eclipse?
 What is the difference between an umbra and a penumbra in terms of a
solar eclipse? Which of the two will have the greatest viewing area from
the Earth?
 What precautions should be taken when preparing to watch a solar eclipse?
Why is this important?
End the lesson with the following YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qog18tiNnqg
References:
Rosenberg, M. (2012). Creating eclipses in the classroom. Science in School: The European Journal for Science
Teachers. http://www.scienceinschool.org/2012/issue23/eclipses.
NASA Eclipse website: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2014.html