Sun's Path Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the latitude of the equator?
0°.
What is the signifance of 0°?
The equator is the location of the sun’s vertical ray on the equinoxes.
What is the latitude, (including direction), of the Tropic of Cancer?
23.5° N.
What is the signifance of 23.5° N?
The Tropic of Cancer is the location of the sun’s vertical ray on the summer solstice.
What is the latitude, (including direction), of the Tropic of Capricorn?
23.5° S.
What is the signifance of 23.5° S?
The Tropic of Capricorn is the location of the sun’s vertical ray on the winter solstice.
What is the latitude, (including direction), of New York State?
40° - 45° N.
What is the significance of 66.5° N?
This is the Arctic circle - from here to the North Pole, there are days when the sun never rises (winter), and when the sun never sets (summer).
What is the significance of 66.5° S?
This is the Antarctic circle - from here to the South Pole, there are days when the sun never rises (winter), and when the sun never sets (summer).
What is the significance of 90° N?
This is the North Pole - 24 hours of daylight for spring and summer months. (March 21 - Sept. 23)
What is the significance of 90° S?
This is the South Pole - 24 hours of daylight for fall and winter months. (Sept. 23 - March 21)
What is the significance of March 21st and September 23rd?
These are the Equinoxes. The sun rises due east and sets due west, and the vertical ray of the sun is at 0°.
What is the significance of June 21st?
This is the summer solstice. The sun rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest, and the vertical ray of the sun is at 23.5° N.
What is the significance of December 21st?
This is the winter solstice. The sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest during this time.
How do you draw the sun’s apparent path?
- Place a point at the locations of sunrise and sunset.
* Place another point at the latitude of the noon sun. (Changes by 23.5° each season)
