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 The Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees.
This tilt creates some interesting affects on the Earth at various times
during the year . For example, the Sun will be directly overhead between
the two tropics at any particular date during the year.
The northern most point occurs at the tropic of cancer which is 23.5o north latitude. Thus, at high noon on the summer solstice the Sun will appear to be directly overhead to someone standing on the Tropic of Cancer. Also notice that the angle that the Sun's rays strike the Earth changes
during the course of a year. For example, in the northern hemisphere
the Sun's rays Also notice that at the Winter Solstice the North Pole does not even see the Sun! That is, the Sun does not rise at the north pole. In fact by studying the picture to the right the Sun would not rise for anyone north of the article circle on the day of the Winter Solstice. Can you make similar statements concerning the South Pole on the day of the Summer Solstice? Only on the day of the Equinoxes is there 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night everywhere on the Earth. |
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strike
the earth more directly. Whereas at the winter solstice
the Sun's rays strike the Earth more obliquely. Do you think this
phenomenon has an impact on the seasons?