Objective – Investigate the relationship between the amount of heat absorbed and the angle to the light source.
Sun’s Height Above the Horizon
(source: Universe at Your Fingertips)
Materials
 Manila folder
 Angle Indicator Sheet
 Penlight
 Four sheets of graph paper
 Paper clip
Procedure
1. Set out your materials.
2. Open the manila folder and paper
clip the graph paper to the inside of
the right half of the manila folder as
shown in the diagram on the right.
3. Tape or glue the Angle Indicator
Sheet to the inside of the left half of
the folder as shown in the diagram.
4. Set up folder so the right half is
flat on table and the left half is at 90o
angle as shown in the diagram.
Someone can hold the folder open
so it forms a 90o angle, or a few stacked books can be used to hold the left side in place
- a small piece of tape can help to keep the left side of folder next to the books.
5. The latitude of Brigham City is 41.5o North. Use the following data as you do this
activity.
Date
Sun’s Angle
Date
Sun’s Angle
Date
Sun’s Angle
6/21
73o
9/21
50o
12/21
27o
Objective – Investigate the relationship between the amount of heat absorbed and the angle to the light source.
Date
Sun’s Angle
3/21
50o
6. To simulate the Sun shining on the Earth, place the flashlight at the end of the angle
line for the height of the Sun above the horizon at noon on the Summer Solstice
(6/21), as shown in the diagram.
You will need to develop a way to be sure the flashlight is always held…
 pointing straight along the angle line.
 the same distance out from the Angle indicator Sheet, so that the entire flashlight
beam falls on the graph paper.
Draw a circle around the flashlight beam on the graph paper.
7. Remove the graph paper, being sure to record what date the outline represents (e.g.
Summer Solstice).
8. Have one team member count the number of squares covered by the flashlight
beam. Be sure to develop a scheme to account for partially covered squares. Record
the results on your group’s worksheet.
9. Repeat the process for other three seasons of the year.
10. Complete the worksheet.
Objective – Investigate the relationship between the amount of heat absorbed and the angle to the light source.
Group Members _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Absent _______________________________________________________________________
Sun’s Height Above the Horizon
(source: Universe at Your Fingertips)
1. Complete the table.
Number of Squares Circled
Date
Sun’s Angle
6/21
73o
9/21
50o
12/21
27o
3/21
50o
Number of Squares Circled
2. Complete the table.
Date with the most squares circled.
Date with the fewest squares circled.
Date(s) with the about the same number of
squares circled.
3. Which season had direct sunlight (fewest number of squares circled)? Explain your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Which season had indirect sunlight (most number of squares circled)? Explain your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Objective – Investigate the relationship between the amount of heat absorbed and the angle to the light source.
5. Explain how this activity demonstrates how the Sun’s angle in the sky affects the type of
sunlight we receive.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Objective – Investigate the relationship between the amount of heat absorbed and the angle to the light source.