Which of the following influences the duration of the day and night, a...
The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about 30°. Despite this fact, the east-west extent appears to be smaller than the north-south extent. From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh there is a time lag of two hours. Hence, time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E) passing through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the standard time for the whole country. The latitudinal extent influences the duration of the day and night, as one moves from south to north.
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Which of the following influences the duration of the day and night, a...
The correct answer is option 'B' - Latitudinal extent.
Explanation:
The duration of day and night is influenced by the latitudinal extent of a place. Here is how it works:
1. Earth's rotation: The Earth rotates on its axis, completing one rotation in approximately 24 hours. This rotation causes the alternation between day and night.
2. Axis tilt: The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. This tilt is the reason for the changing seasons. As the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the planet receive different amounts of sunlight, resulting in variations in the duration of day and night.
3. Latitudinal extent: The latitudinal extent refers to the distance of a place from the equator. As one moves from south to north or vice versa, the latitudinal extent changes. The closer a place is to the poles (north or south), the greater the difference in the duration of day and night.
- Near the equator: At the equator, the latitudinal extent is zero. This means that the day and night duration is almost equal throughout the year, with minor variations.
- Towards the poles: As one moves towards the poles, the latitudinal extent increases. This leads to significant variations in the duration of day and night. In extreme cases, such as the Arctic Circle or the Antarctic Circle, there are periods of continuous daylight or continuous darkness, depending on the time of the year.
- Mid-latitudes: Places located between the equator and the poles, known as mid-latitudes, experience varying day and night durations throughout the year. In summer, the days are longer, and nights are shorter, while in winter, the opposite occurs.
In conclusion, the latitudinal extent of a place influences the duration of day and night. The closer a place is to the poles, the greater the difference in the duration of day and night, leading to variations in daylight hours throughout the year.
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