A solar eclipse does not occur at every new Moon because

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Consider the question: A solar eclipse does not occur at every new Moon because
Option 1: 'the plane of the Moon's orbit around the Earth is at an angle of 5° to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun.' This is the correct explanation. The Moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees to the ecliptic, so most new Moons are not aligned with the Sun-Earth line, meaning the Moon's shadow misses the Earth.
Option 2: 'the orbit of the Moon is not a perfect circle.' While the Moon's orbit is elliptical, this fact alone does not prevent an eclipse at every new Moon; an eclipse depends on the alignment of the three bodies and the orbital planes, not just orbital shape.
Option 3: 'the path of the Sun is inclined at an angle of 5° to the ecliptic plane.' This is inaccurate. The Sun's apparent path (the ecliptic) defines the plane of Earth's orbit; it is not described as being inclined to itself. The statement mixes concepts and misstates the geometry involved in eclipses.
Option 4: 'the Moon can only be seen at night.' This is incorrect for the Moon in general; the Moon is often visible at various times of day and its visibility is not what governs solar eclipses. Eclipses depend on alignment, not merely when we can see the Moon.
In summary, the key idea is the small tilt between the Moon’s orbital plane and the Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun; this inclination means that during most new Moons, the Sun-Moon-Earth alignment is not perfect for shadow casting onto Earth, preventing a solar eclipse. The other options either misstate orbital geometry or confuse observational visibility with eclipse mechanics.

2261 ASTRON 0088 SEC1070 Quiz 3 - click here to begin

A solar eclipse does not occur at every new Moon because

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