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The mathematics of a total solar eclipse - mklabgr - 08-12-2026
The mathematics of a total solar eclipse
Summary
This Royal Astronomical Society worksheet, “The Mathematics of a Total Solar Eclipse,” uses the geometry of solar eclipses to teach mathematical concepts to Years 10–11 students. It explains how the Moon can completely cover the Sun because their apparent sizes are similar, introducing similar triangles, proportionality, and scale calculations.
Students first solve problems involving missing sides, then use real measurements of the Earth, Moon, and Sun to estimate the Earth–Sun distance, the diameters of the Sun and Earth, and the size of the Sun’s image in a pinhole camera. The worksheet also demonstrates how mathematical models based on rounded data produce approximate results and compares them with actual astronomical measurements.
ARTICLE [PDF]