Question

How would you use a torch, a beach ball, and a tennis ball to demonstrate the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

Answer 1

The Torch would represent the sun the tennis ball the moon and the Beach ball the earth. have the tennis ball rotate around the Beach ball and watch the reflections.

Explanation:

This simulation would require at least three people. One person to hold the flash light some distance away, one person to hold the tennis ball on some sort of holder and the third to hold the beach ball.

The person holding the tennis ball would walk around the person with the beach ball. At some point if the distances are correct the tennis ball would block the light from the flashlight from striking the beach ball. This would represent a solar eclipse.

The person holding the tennis ball would continue to walk around the beach ball holding the tennis ball at various heights. At one elevation the beach ball would come between the flashlight and the tennis ball blocking the reflection off the tennis ball. This would represent a lunar eclipse.