Unit 1, Section 2

Earth-Sun Relationship

Earth-Sun Relationship
Vocab Words
Rotation
Revolution
Terrestrial Globe
Latitude
Longitude
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Equator
Prime Meridian
Autumnal Equinox
Vernal Equinox
Winter Solstice
Summer Solstice

Earth-Sun Relationship
Terrestrial Globe is the spherical
representation of the earth.
The imaginary line that separates the
earth into a Northern and Southern
hemisphere is the equator.
The imaginary line that separates the
earth into a an Easter and Western
hemisphere is the Prime Meridian.
Latitude measures distances North
and South of the equator.
Longitude measures distances East
and West of the Prime Meridian.

Earth-Sun Relationship
Earth is constantly moving in two ways
It is taking one rotation around itself each day
A rotation is when an object spins around itself

It is taking one revolution around the sun each

year 365.25 days
A revolution is when an object travels around
another object

Earth-Sun Relationship
The earths rotation is what gives us day
and night

Earth-Sun Relationships
The Reasons for the Seasons

Solar Radiation
The earth intercepts less than one twobillionth of the energy given off by the sun.
However, the radiation is sufficient to
provide 99.9% of the energy that heats the
earth / drives our climate.

Why is it hot in the tropics and

cold at the poles?

The Earth is curved and this cause

differing angles of incidence.

Intensity of incoming solar radiation

(insolation) is related to angle of incidence.
Higher angles = higher intensity.

Why is it hot in the tropics and cold at

the poles?
The Earths surface is curved relative to
the incoming solar radiation.
Direct rays (most intense) are always in
the tropical latitudes (23.5 S to 23.5 N)
As a result, solar radiation is diffuse in
the polar regions.

What causes the seasons?

revolution of the earth around the
sun
23.5 O tilt of the earth axis from
perpendicular to the plane of the
ecliptic

Rotation of the Earth

Rotate west to east or counter-clockwise
(when viewed from the North Pole)
sunset and sunrise

Rotation period is 24 hours per solar day

(23 hours 56 minutes with respect to other
stars)

Revolution of the earth

Period of revolution is 365.25 solar days
Elliptical orbit (plane of the ecliptic)

Perihelion
- 91.5

Aphelion -

million miles

94.5 million
miles

(Jan. 4)

(July 5)
93 million miles average

Tilt of the earth on its axis.

The earth is tilted 23.5 from perpendicular
to the plane of the ecliptic.
Tilt is currently constantly toward Polaris

Earth-Sun Relationship
Earths revolution is what gives us
seasons, but only because the EARTH IS
TILTED AT 23 DEGREES!!!!
Earth is closest to the sun in its
revolution in December and furthest in its
revolution in June!

Earth-Sun Relationship
Sun appears to shine directly in different
locations throughout the year.
Goes from shining at the equator to
shining at the Tropic of Cancer, back to
the equator, down to the Tropic of
Capricorn and then back to the equator
Repeats this cycle over and over again!

Earth-Sun Relationship
Tropic of Cancer is 23 degrees North latitude
Furthest north the sun appears to shine directly!
Shines here around June 21st

Tropic of Capricorn is 23 degrees South

latitude
Furthest south the sun appears to shine directly!
Shines here around December 21st

Earth-Sun Relationship
Summer Solstice
First day of Summer
The day your hemisphere is tilted directly towards the sun
Longest day of the year
Northern Hemisphere it is around June 21st, Southern
Hemisphere it is around December 21st

Winter Solstice
First day of Winter
The day your hemisphere is tilted directly away from the sun
Shortest day of the year
Northern Hemisphere it is around December 21st, Southern
Hemisphere is it around June 21st

Earth-Sun Relationship
Autumnal Equinox
First day of Fall
The day the sun is shining directly at the equator, but moving
away from the hemisphere you are living in (towards winter)
12 hours of daylight, 12 hours of darkness
Northern Hemisphere it is around September 21st, Southern
Hemisphere it is around March 21st

Vernal Equinox
First day of Spring
The day the sun is shining directly at the equator, but moving
toward the hemisphere you are living in (towards summer)
12 hours of daylight, 12 hours of darkness
Northern Hemisphere it is around March 21st, Southern
Hemisphere it is around September 21st

SOLSTICES
SUMMER, JUNE 21
WINTER, DECEMBER 21
Where are the
overhead rays of
the sun on these
days?
Which parts of the
earth are in
darkness and light?
For how long?

Notice these four

important
parallels.
Where do they
occur? Why?
Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 N
Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 S
Arctic Circle (66.5 N)
Antarctic Circle (66.5 S)

EQUINOXES
VERNAL, MARCH 21
AUTUMNAL, SEPTEMBER 21

Effects of the
Seasons

Changes
Changes
Changes
Changes

in
in
in
in

solar intensity
solar altitude
day length
temperature

All of these changes are most

extreme at high latitudes and
minimized at the equator.

Annual Changes in Daylength

1 of 2

Annual Change in
Noontime Solar Altitude
What is the change in height from the solstice to the equinox?
The total annual change?
Summer
Solstice

Equinox

Winter
Solstice

2 of 2

Annual Change in
Noontime Solar Altitude
Summer
Solstice

Total annual change:

47O
23.5O

Equinox

Winter
Solstice

23.5O

Time
Standard Time
The International Date Line
Daylight Savings Time
Year = 365 1/4 days or 365 days 5 hrs. 48 min.
45.685 seconds
Solar Day = 24 hours on average. Changes
slightly with the elliptical orbit around the sun.
Use analemma to calculate.

Standard Time

360o / 24 hr. = 15o standard zones (7.5o E and W from

standard meridian)

International Date Line

Cross W to E - gain day; E to W - lose day

International Date Line

A day is 24
hours, but a date
lasts for 48
hours!
At any given time on
earth, except
Greenwich noon, there
are two dates on the
planet.
The new date starts at the IDL when midnight
crosses the IDL and moves westward around the
planet for 24 hrs. displacing the old date. Then it
fades out as the old date for 24 hrs. For more
help on this see:

Daylight Savings Time

Day starts earlier April 1
- October 31
Started during war time
to save energy (maximize
morning sun and increase
work day).
Arizona and Hawaii
dont use it.
Navajo and Hopi do causes great confusion.