On the summer solstice in June, the Sun will be directly above __________ and all locations north of _________ will experience daylight all day. a. the Tropic of Cancer; the Antarctic Circle b. the Tropic of Capricorn; the Arctic Circle c. the Tropic of Cancer; the Arctic Circle d. the Tropic of Capricorn; the Antarctic Circle

Short Answer

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c. the Tropic of Cancer; the Arctic Circle

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Summer Solstice

The summer solstice occurs around June 21 each year. It is the day when the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun and the Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest day of the year.
02

Identify the Correct Tropic

During the summer solstice, the Sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at 23.5°N latitude.
03

Determine Continual Daylight Region

On the summer solstice, all locations north of the Arctic Circle (66.5°N latitude) experience 24 hours of daylight due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.
04

Select the Appropriate Answer

Given that the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer and locations north of the Arctic Circle experience all-day daylight, the correct answer is c.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line located at approximately 23.5° North latitude. It is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. During the summer solstice, which occurs around June 21st each year, the Sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer. This phenomenon is significant because it marks the most northerly position at which the Sun can be directly overhead.

The reason the Tropic of Cancer is so crucial is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. The Earth's equatorial plane is tilted relative to its orbital plane around the Sun by about 23.5 degrees. Therefore, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during the summer solstice, the Sun appears directly overhead at this latitude.
  • This marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • It results in the longest day of the year.
  • It is also the point when the Northern Hemisphere receives the maximum amount of solar energy.
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is located at 66.5° North latitude and is one of the most important circles of latitude on Earth. During the summer solstice, all locations north of the Arctic Circle experience 24 hours of daylight. This phenomenon is known as the Midnight Sun.

This continuous daylight occurs because of the Earth's axial tilt. As the North Pole tilts towards the Sun, the regions within the Arctic Circle are exposed to sunlight for an entire rotation of the Earth. Here are some key points to understand about the Arctic Circle:
  • It marks the southern boundary of the area where, for at least one day a year, there is a full 24-hour period of sunlight.
  • Similarly, during the winter solstice in December, locations within the Arctic Circle can experience 24 hours of darkness.
  • This unique daylight pattern greatly affects the ecosystems and human activities in the Arctic regions.

The understanding of these phenomena is essential for grasping how our planet's tilt and rotation affect the distribution of sunlight throughout the year.
Earth's Tilt
One of the fundamental reasons for the different seasons and varying lengths of day and night on Earth is its axial tilt. The Earth is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the Sun. This tilt is responsible for many important Earthly phenomena, such as the summer and winter solstices, equinoxes, and the variation in daylight hours we experience throughout the year.

During the summer solstice, the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, causing the Northern Hemisphere to experience its longest day and shortest night. Conversely, during the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in the shortest day and longest night for the Northern Hemisphere. Here are some other key impacts of Earth's tilt:
  • It causes the changing seasons as different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
  • It affects climate patterns by influencing the distribution of solar energy across the planet.
  • This tilt also contributes to the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun and polar nights experienced within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.

Understanding Earth's tilt helps explain why the positions of the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle are significant during the summer solstice and how they contribute to the unique patterns of daylight and climate on our planet.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Go to the U.S. Naval Observatory website (USNO "Data Services," at http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data). Look up the times for sunrise and sunset for your location for the current week. (You can change the dates one at a time or bring up a table for the entire month.) How are the times changing from one day to the next? Bring up the "Duration of Days/Darkness Table for One Year" page for your location. Are the days getting longer or shorter? When do the shortest and the longest days occur? Look up a location in the opposite hemisphere (Northern or Southern). When are the days shortest and longest?

Go to the "Earth and Moon Viewer" website (http://fourmilab. ch/earthview). Under "Viewing the Earth," click on "latitude, longitude and altitude" and enter your approximate latitude and longitude, and 40,000 for altitude; then select "View Earth." Are you in daytime or nighttime? Now play with the locations; keep the same latitude but change to the opposite hemisphere (Northern or Southern). Is it still night or day? Go back to your latitude, and this time enter \(180^{\circ}\) minus your longitude, and change from west to east, or from east to west, so that you are looking at the opposite side of Earth. Is it night or day there? What do you see at the North Pole (latitude \(90^{\circ}\) north) and the South Pole (latitude \(90^{\circ}\) south)? At the bottom of your screen you can play with the time. Move back 12 hours. What do you observe at your location and at the poles?

Suppose the tilt of Earth's equator relative to its orbit were \(10^{\circ}\) instead of \(23.5^{\circ} .\) At what latitudes would the Arctic and Antarctic circles and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn be located?

Day and night are caused by a. the tilt of Earth on its axis. b. the rotation of Earth on its axis. c. the revolution of Earth around the Sun. d. the revolution of the Sun around Earth.

There is an angle between the ecliptic and the celestial equator because a. Earth's axis is tilted with respect to its orbit. b. Earth's orbit is tilted with respect to the orbits of other planets. c. the Sun follows a rising and falling path through space. d. the Sun's orbit is tilted with respect to Earth's.

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