Seasons and Path of the Sun Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the Summer Solstice
June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere; the longest day of the year.
Where does the Sun rise and set on the Summer Solstice
The Sun rises in the furthest Northeast and sets in the furthest Northwest.
What is the Winter Solstice
December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere; the shortest day of the year.
Where does the Sun rise and set on the Winter Solstice?
The Sun rises in the furthest Southeast and sets in the furthest Southwest.
Where do you look for the Sun when it is rising?
The Sun will rise in the eastern horizon.
Where do you look for the Sun when it is setting?
The Sun will set in the western horizon.
Where do you look for the Sun in its highest position in the sky?
In the Northern Hemisphere, a person would look up in the sky towards the South to see the Sun in its highest position.
What is the Vernal Equinox?
March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere; it is one of two days with equal hours of sunlight and darkness.
What is the Autumnal Equinox?
September 22 in the Northern Hemisphere; it is one of two days with equal hours of sunlight and darkness.
Where does the Sun rise and set on the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes?
The Sun rises due east and sets due west on the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes.
What is the location of the Tropic of Cancer?
The Tropic of Cancer is 23.5 degrees North of the equator.
What is the location of the Tropic of Capricorn?
The Tropic of Capricorn is 23.5 degrees South of the equator.
What is true about the Sun’s rays between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn?
The Sun’s rays can shine directly at a 90 degree angle between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
What is the location of the Arctic Circle?
The Arctic Circle is latitude 66.5 N
What is the location of the Antarctic Circle?
The Antarctic Circle is latitude 66.5 S
How does the tilt of Earth’s axis towards the Sun affect the intensity of the Sun’s rays?
When the Earth’s axis is tilted towards the Sun, the angle of incoming light is greater and the intensity is greater.
How does the tilt of Earth’s axis away from the Sun affect the intensity of the Sun’s rays?
When the Earth’s axis is tilted away from the Sun, the angle of incoming light is less and the intensity is less.
How does the path of the Sun across the sky compare on the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice?
The Sun follows its longest path and reaches its highest position in the sky on the Summer Solstice. The Sun follows its shortest path on the Winter Solstice.
How does the tilt of Earth’s axis towards the Sun affect the hours of daylight?
When the Earth’s axis is tilted towards the Sun, longer hours of daylight will occur.
How does the tilt of Earth’s axis away from the Sun affect the hours of daylight?
When the Earth’s axis is tilted away from the Sun, less hours of daylight will occur.
Why are seasonal changes near the equator less noticeable?
Near the equator, the tilt of the earth is not extreme. Hours of daylight and night are nearly equal.
