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Noon Sun Angle Worksheet

Name

Equinox

Date

March 22 nd

Name

Subsolar Point ( Latitude where the sun is overhead at noon)

0 o

Equinox

Solstice

Solstice

September 22 nd

June 22 nd

December 22 nd

0 o

23.5˚ N

23.5˚ S

Noon Sun Angle = 90 – Arc Distance

Recall: Arc Distance = latitude where you are at  subsolar point

Hints: If the subsolar point and your latitude are in the same hemisphere, subtract.

If the subsolar point and your latitude are in different hemispheres, add.

Note: if you get a negative number, it means that no sunlight is received at that time of year… or there is

24 hours of nighttime, use 0 o as your answer.

Instructions: complete the table.

Problem Time of Year Subsolar

Point

Latitude where you are "at"

Arc Distance Noon Sun Angle

Calculation

Noon

Sun

Angle

Example September 22 0˚ 14˚ 14 – 0 = 14 90 – 14 = 76 76˚

1 Equinox 23.5˚N 90 – =

2 March 22 80˚N 90 – =

September 22

June 22

June 22

June 22

December 22

December 22

December 22

March 22

June 22

December 22

80˚S

80˚N

80˚S

80˚S

80˚N

23.5 ˚S

34˚N

34˚N

34˚N

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

90 – =

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More about Noon Sun Angles

North South

This is a diagram of a house in Arizona. Let’s pretend that the house is in southern Arizona at 33˚N.

The diagram shows summer sun's rays at noon on the June 22nd Solstice and winter sun's rays at noon on the December 22nd Solstice.

13. What is the angle of the sun’s rays at noon during the summer (June 22 nd Solstice)? ___________.

Show your work here:

14. What is the angle of the sun’s rays at noon during the winter (December 22 nd

___________________. Show your work here:

Solstice)?

Bonus Questions

15. The original diagram is not correct. Winter and summer angles should both be a bit bigger (more vertical). Use a protractor to check the diagram, then correct the picture.

16. Would you put a shade tree on the north or the south side of the house? Why?

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KEY

Problem Time of Year Subsolar

Point

Example September 22

1 Equinox

Latitude where you are

"at"

14˚

Arc Distance

14 – 0 = 14

Noon Sun Angle

Calculation

90 – 14 = 76

23.5˚N 23.5 – 0 = 23.5 90 – 23.5 = 66.5

2 March 22 0˚ 80˚N 80 – 0 = 80 90 – 80 = 10

September 22

June 22

June 22

23.5˚ N

23.5˚ N

80˚S

80˚N

80˚S

80 – 0 = 80 90 – 80 = 10

80 – 23.5 = 56.6 90 – 56.5 = 33.5

80 + 23.5 = 103.5 90 – 103.5 = -13.5 this means no sunlight is received

23.5 – 0 = 23.5 90 – 23.5 = 66.5

80 – 23.5 = 56.5 90 – 56.5 = 33.5

June 22 23.5˚ N 0˚

December 22 23.5˚ S 80˚S

December 22 23.5˚ S 80˚N 80 + 23.5 = 103.5 90 – 103.5 = -13.5 this means no sunlight is received

December 22 23.5˚ S 23.5 ˚S 23.5 – 23.5 = 0 90 – 0 = 90

March 22 0˚ 34˚N 34 – 0 = 34 90 – 34 = 56

June 22 23.5˚ N 34˚N

December 22 23.5˚ S 34˚N

34 – 23.5 = 10.5 90 – 10.5 = 79.5

34 + 23.5 = 57.5 90 – 57.5 = 32.5

Noon

Sun

Angle

76˚

66.5˚

10˚

10˚

33.5˚

24 hours of night

66.5˚

33.5˚

24 hours of night

90˚

56˚

79.5˚

32.5˚

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KEY

Original- not correct Correct

North South North South

This is a diagram of a house in Arizona. Let’s pretend that the house is in southern Arizona at 33˚N.

The diagram shows summer sun's rays at noon on the June 22nd Solstice and winter sun's rays at noon on the December 22nd Solstice.

13. What is the angle of the sun’s rays at noon during the summer (June 22 nd Solstice)? ___________.

Show your work here:

Arc Distance = 33 - 23.5 = 9.5

Sun Angle = 90 – 9.5˚ = 80.5˚

14. What is the angle of the sun’s rays at noon during the winter (December 22 nd

Show your work here:

Solstice)? __________.

Arc Distance = 33.5 + 23.5 = 56.5

Sun Angle = 90 – 56.5 = 33.5˚

Bonus Questions

15. The original diagram is not correct. Winter and summer angles should both be a bit bigger (more vertical). Use a protractor to check the diagram, then correct the picture.

See correction in diagram at the top of this page

16. Would you put a shade tree on the north or the south side of the house? Why?

The diagram shows that the sun is always shining from the south. The shade is always cast to the north of the tree. The smart place to put a shade tree would be on the south side of the house.

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Instructions: FILL IN THE CIRCLE BY THE CORRECT ANSWER

1. Why is it summer for us in the Northern Hemisphere in June?

 A . Earth is closer to the sun in June

 B.

Sun angles are high and days are long

 C. The sun sends out giant solar flares in June

 D. So we can wear bathing suits on the water slides

2. Why is it winter in the Southern Hemisphere in June?

 A . Earth is farther away from the sun in June

 B.

Sun angles are low and days are short

 C. The sun likes to get cool in June

 D. So the kids in Australia can surf

3. Look at the diagram above. Where is it summer?

 A . In Antarctica

 B.

In the Southern Hemisphere

 C. At the Equator

 D. In the Northern Hemisphere

4. If you wanted to play all day long, I mean all 24 hours in the day, and it was the June Solstice (June

21st), where would you go?

 A . The Equator

 B.

The Tropic of Cancer

 C. All of the latitudes from the Arctic Circle to the North Pole

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KEY and Explanation for Geography Assessment

1. Why is it summer for us in the Northern Hemisphere in June?

 B.

Sun angles are high and days are long. When the hemisphere on Earth "tilts towards the sun", as it does in the Northern Hemisphere in June, days are longer and sun angles are higher. This means that a lot more sunlight is received, making it summer.

2. Why is it winter in the Southern Hemisphere in June?

 B.

Sun angles are low and days are short. When the hemisphere on Earth "tilts away the sun", as it does in the Southern Hemisphere in June, days are shorter and sun angles are lower. This means that a lot more sunlight is received, making it summer.

3. Look at the diagram above. Where is it summer?

 D. In the Northern Hemisphere. The sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, making higher sun angles with more intense sunlight. Also, days are longer.

4. If you wanted to play all day long, I mean all 24 hours in the day, and it was the June Solstice (June

21st), where would you go?

C. All of the latitudes from the Arctic Circle to the North Pole. These latitudes receive sunlight for all

24 hours as Earth spins on its axis.

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