Lab Module_Path of the Sun-converted

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Astronomy

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Apr 3, 2024

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\\\PHYS 1052 – General Astronomy I Lab Module #2 – Path of the Sun Figure 1 illustrates the sky as seen from the continental United States. It shows that the Sun’s daily path across the sky is longest on June 21 and shortest on December 21. In addition, on June 21, which is called the summer solstice, the Sun reaches its maximum height in the southern sky above the horizon at noon. The figure shows that the Sun never actually reaches the zenith for any observer in the continental U.S. In other words, the Sun is never directly overhead. Over the six months following the summer solstice, the height of the Sun at noon moves progressively lower and lower until December 21, the winter solstice. Thus, we see that the path of the Sun through the southern sky changes considerably over the course of a year. 1. According to Figure 1, in which direction would you look to see the Sun when it reaches its highest position in the sky today? Circle one: east southeast (south) southwest west 2. If it is wintertime right now (just after the winter solstice), how does the height of the Sun at noon change over the next several months? Circle one: ( increases) stays the same decreases 3. Is there ever a time of year when the Sun is directly overhead at the zenith at noon for an observer in the continental U.S.? If so, on what date does this occur? If not, why? There is never a time when the sun is directly overhead at the zenith for an observer in the continental U.S.

4. During which month(s) of the year would the Sun rise: a) North of east? Summer and Spring b) South of east? Fall and Winter c) Directly in the east? Equinoxes 5. Does the Sun always set in precisely the same location on the horizon throughout the year? If not, describe how the direction that the Sun sets on the horizon changes throughout the year. No, the sun does not set in precisely the same position throughout the year. This is because the pathing of the sun changes due to the position we are at relative to the sun. Figure 2 shows a small, vertical stick, which casts a shadow while it rests on a large piece of paper or poster board. You can think of this to be somewhat like a sundial. For two different days of the year, the end of the stick’s shadow has been marked with an x every couple hours throughout the day. Although the sketch is somewhat exaggerated, these shadow plots indicate how the position of the Sun changes in the sky through the course of these two days. The following questions are designed to show the relationship between Figure 1 on the previous page and Figure 2 above. 6. What do the x ’s in the shadow plots represent? X represents the position that the sun will be at in a certain time in the day. This being the summer and winter solstice

7. Approximately how much time went by from the time one of the x ’s was drawn until the next x was drawn for each shadow plot? Approximately 2 hours went by. 8. Approximately how long did it take to create each of the shadow plots? It took approximately 10 hours to create plot a, and 14 hours to make plot b. 9. How does the direction of each of the stick’s shadow compare to the direction of the Sun at the time each x was drawn? The shadow at each direction represents the sun at the opposite position from the shadow. 10. Using Figures 1 and 2, in what direction would the shadow of the stick be cast on the poster board if the Sun rises in the southeast? Circle one: west (northwest) north northeast east southeast 11. Clearly circle the x for the shadow that corresponds to noon for Shadow Plot A and for Shadow Plot B. In the middle of each shadowplots 12. Which Shadow Plot (A or B) corresponds to the path of the Sun in which the Sun is highest in the sky at noon? Explain your reasoning. Shadow plots B represents this because it has the most intervals between each x, which represents the longer path around the horizon. 13. Which Shadow Plot (A or B) most closely corresponds to the Sun’s path through the sky during the summer, and which corresponds with the winter? Label these paths on Figure 2. Explain your reasoning. The shadow plot A represents the sun during the winter, and the shadow plot B represents the sun during the summer.

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14. On Figure 2, sketch a small Sun on the paper to indicate where on the horizon the Sun would be soon after sunrise in the summer, and label the x that indicates the position of the stick’s shadow at this time. Explain your reasoning for why you sketched the Sun where you did and labeled the x that you did. 15. Based on the shadow plots in Figure 2, during which time of year (summer or winter) does the Sun rise to the south of east? Explain your reasoning. 16. Imagine Shadow Plot A corresponds to the path of the Sun on the winter solstice. Will there ever be a day when the stick’s shadow at noon is longer than the one shown on Shadow Plot A at noon? Explain your reasoning. 17. Imagine Shadow Plot B corresponds to the path of the Sun on the summer solstice. Will there ever be a day when the stick’s shadow at noon is shorter than the one shown on Shadow Plot B at noon? Explain your reasoning. No there will never be a day where it is longer because the height of the sun is larger during the summer time, which makes for a shorter shadow.

18. If you were to mark the top of the stick’s shadow with an x , where would the x be placed along the north-to-south line to indicate the Sun’s position at noon today? Clearly explain why you placed the x where you did. 19. Will the stick ever cast a shadow along the north-to-south line that extends to the south of the stick at noon? Explain your reasoning. 20. Is there ever a clear (no clouds) day of the year in the continental U.S. when the stick casts no shadow? If so, when does this occur, and where exactly in the sky does the Sun have to be? If not, is there a city in the world in which this occurs?