1 00:00:00,552 --> 00:00:01,789 Have you ever wondered how 2 00:00:01,829 --> 00:00:03,391 even though the Sun is so much 3 00:00:03,629 --> 00:00:04,689 bigger than the Moon 4 00:00:04,713 --> 00:00:06,640 they appear to be the same size in the sky? 5 00:00:07,005 --> 00:00:08,320 Or how the Moon can cover up 6 00:00:08,342 --> 00:00:10,299 the Sun and cause a total solar eclipse? 7 00:00:11,510 --> 00:00:12,297 Let's try something out. 8 00:00:12,446 --> 00:00:13,710 Take any two 9 00:00:13,735 --> 00:00:15,070 differently sized circles. 10 00:00:15,813 --> 00:00:17,493 I'm using a paper plate 11 00:00:17,851 --> 00:00:19,291 and a coin I found. 12 00:00:19,849 --> 00:00:21,314 Secure the larger circle 13 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,364 either by having a friend hold onto it for you 14 00:00:23,619 --> 00:00:25,337 or by using a little bit of tape. 15 00:00:32,153 --> 00:00:33,418 Now what you're going to want to do 16 00:00:33,497 --> 00:00:34,954 is take the smaller circle 17 00:00:35,013 --> 00:00:36,504 and hold it at arm's length 18 00:00:36,687 --> 00:00:37,598 and close one eye. 19 00:00:38,809 --> 00:00:41,178 See if it overlaps the larger circle. 20 00:00:42,294 --> 00:00:43,161 If it doesn't, 21 00:00:43,201 --> 00:00:45,318 take a few more steps back and try again 22 00:00:45,357 --> 00:00:46,646 until the smaller circle 23 00:00:46,671 --> 00:00:48,849 completely overlaps the larger circle. 24 00:00:49,372 --> 00:00:51,200 What we found here is the spot 25 00:00:51,225 --> 00:00:53,791 where the smaller object appears to look 26 00:00:53,816 --> 00:00:55,655 the same size as the bigger object 27 00:00:56,068 --> 00:00:57,943 despite being completely different sizes 28 00:00:58,635 --> 00:01:01,717 Even though the Moon is about 400 times smaller than the Sun, 29 00:01:01,725 --> 00:01:04,469 it's also 400 times closer to us. 30 00:01:04,955 --> 00:01:07,578 So when both the Sun and the Moon appear in our sky 31 00:01:07,669 --> 00:01:10,023 the Moon can completely cover up the Sun 32 00:01:10,091 --> 00:01:11,454 and cause a total solar eclipse! 33 00:01:11,623 --> 00:01:12,747 Try this at home 34 00:01:12,772 --> 00:01:13,873 and see if you can find the point where 35 00:01:13,898 --> 00:01:15,436 objects appear to be the same size 36 00:01:15,515 --> 00:01:16,974 despite being completely different. 37 00:01:17,483 --> 00:01:20,424 Eclipses are all about perspective and distances. 38 00:01:20,936 --> 00:01:22,707 The distance and angle of the moon 39 00:01:22,732 --> 00:01:23,992 can vary throughout the year 40 00:01:24,228 --> 00:01:26,549 so sometimes instead of a total solar eclipse, 41 00:01:26,712 --> 00:01:28,416 we can get a partial solar eclipse 42 00:01:28,474 --> 00:01:30,204 when the moon only covers part of the Sun 43 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:31,934 or an annular solar eclipse 44 00:01:32,001 --> 00:01:34,143 when the Sun peeks out around the Moon 45 00:01:34,168 --> 00:01:35,539 so that it looks like a big ring of fire. 46 00:01:36,108 --> 00:01:39,180 Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time.