Question 1

You were told that the Earth isn't a perfect sphere; instead it is described as an oblate spheroid. Explain what is meant by this and what causes this shape.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You were told that the Earth isn't...

Question 2

Explain why the intensity of solar radiation received by the Earth varies with latitude.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why the intensity of solar radiation...

Question 3

The axis of the Earth makes an angle of 23.5º with the plane of the ecliptic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The axis of the Earth makes an...

Question 4

The Earth's distance from the Sun is the main cause of the seasons.

Accepted Answer

The main cause of the seasons is the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbital plane around the Sun, not the distance from the Sun.

Question 5

The Sun always illuminates half of the Earth at any given time,while the other half is in shadow.

Accepted Answer

This is a fact. The Earth rotates on its axis and as it does so, half the planet faces towards the sun and is illuminated, while the other half faces away from the sun and is in shadow. This creates day and night on Earth.

Question 6

The axis of the Earth makes an angle of 66.5º with the plane of the ecliptic.

Accepted Answer

This is true. The axis of the Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees from the vertical (perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic). Since the plane of the ecliptic is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees from the celestial equator, the angle between the axis of the Earth and the plane of the ecliptic is 66.5 degrees (90 - 23.5 = 66.5).

Question 7

The Earth's axial tilt always points in the same direction relative to the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The Earth's axial tilt does not always point in the same direction relative to the Sun due to the precession of the Earth's axis, which causes the direction of the axial tilt to slowly change over a cycle of approximately 26,000 years.

Question 8

What is the plane of the ecliptic?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the plane of the ecliptic?...

Question 9

The diurnal cycle of the Earth is the same thing as the seasonal cycle.

Accepted Answer

The diurnal cycle of the Earth refers to the daily cycle of day and night, while the seasonal cycle refers to the changes in weather and climate that occur over the course of a year. These are two distinct cycles with different time frames and causes.

Question 10

In the Northern Hemisphere,as the season moves from summer to fall the position of the noontime Sun migrates further south in the sky on a daily basis.

Accepted Answer

This is true because as we approach fall in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun's path across the sky becomes lower and shorter due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. This causes the noontime Sun to gradually move towards the southern direction, indicating the shift from summer to fall.

Question 11

If you face the poleward,in the Midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere,the Sun rises to your left and sets to your right,while in the Midlatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere the Sun rises to your right and sets to your left.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun appears to move from east to west across the sky, rising in the east and setting in the west. When facing north, the Sun will be to your right at noon. In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true, with the Sun rising to the east, moving across the northern sky, and setting in the west. When facing north, the Sun will be to your left at noon.

Question 12

If it is 3 P.M.Tuesday in Japan,it will be Monday in Los Angeles.

Accepted Answer

Japan is ahead of Los Angeles by about 16 to 17 hours depending on daylight saving time, so when it's 3 P.M. Tuesday in Japan, it's still Monday in Los Angeles.

Question 13

The Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice occurs when the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer.

Accepted Answer

The subsolar point is the point on Earth's surface where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon. The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost latitude at which the subsolar point can occur. Therefore, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs when the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer, making the statement true.

Question 14

Traveling east across the International Date Line will return you to the previous day.

Accepted Answer

When traveling east across the International Date Line, you will cross over into the previous day. This is because the date changes as you cross the line, and traveling east means you are going back in time.

Question 15

Traveling west across the International Date Line will return you to the previous day.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Traveling west across the International Date Line...

Question 16

In June,the Southern Hemisphere is pointed away from the Sun,while in December it is points toward the Sun.

Accepted Answer

In June, the Southern Hemisphere experiences winter because it is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in less direct sunlight and cooler temperatures. Conversely, in December, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere because it is tilted towards the Sun, receiving more direct sunlight and warmer temperatures.

Question 17

Solstice refers to the time when the subsolar point is at the Equator.

Accepted Answer

Solstice refers to the time when the subsolar point reaches its farthest distance from the Equator, either at the Tropic of Cancer (for the June solstice) or the Tropic of Capricorn (for the December solstice).

Question 18

Traveling east across the International Date Line will move you into the next day.

Accepted Answer

Traveling east across the International Date Line moves you back one day; traveling west across it moves you into the next day.

Question 19

The Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice occurs when the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Capricorn.

Accepted Answer

The Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice occurs when the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer, not Capricorn.

Question 20

May 20-21 is known as the spring equinox.

Accepted Answer

May 20-21 is not the spring equinox. The spring equinox occurs around March 20-21 in the northern hemisphere and around September 22-23 in the southern hemisphere.

Quiz 3: Earth-Sun Geometry and the Seasons