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The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the
  • a)
    Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
  • b)
    Tropic of Capricorn and Antarctic Circle
  • c)
    Tropic of Cancer and Arctic circle
  • d)
    Equator and Arctic circle
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond thea)Trop...
The sun is never overhead beyond the tropics due to the latitudes. The sun's rays always fall directly at 0° latitude which is known as the equator. The sun rays can be experienced overhead till the tropic of cancer and Capricorn in the northern and southern hemispheres of the earth respectively.
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The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond thea)Trop...
Explanation:
The answer to this question is option 'A', i.e., the mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Let us understand this concept in detail.

Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn:

The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees on its axis. Due to this tilt, the rays of the sun fall on the earth's surface at different angles at different latitudes. The Tropic of Cancer is the latitude that lies at 23.5 degrees north of the equator. Similarly, the Tropic of Capricorn is the latitude that lies at 23.5 degrees south of the equator.

The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost point on the earth where the sun's rays fall vertically overhead during the summer solstice. The summer solstice occurs around June 21st every year. During this time, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and hence, the sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer.

Similarly, the Tropic of Capricorn is the southernmost point on the earth where the sun's rays fall vertically overhead during the winter solstice. The winter solstice occurs around December 22nd every year. During this time, the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and hence, the sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn.

The Equator:

The equator is the imaginary line that runs around the earth's surface, dividing it into two hemispheres, i.e., the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. The equator is the latitude that lies at 0 degrees and is the midpoint between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle:

The Arctic Circle is the latitude that lies at 66.5 degrees north of the equator, while the Antarctic Circle is the latitude that lies at 66.5 degrees south of the equator.

Why does the mid-day sun never shine overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn?

The mid-day sun is the sun that is directly overhead at noon. The reason why the mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is because of the earth's tilt.

As we move towards the poles, the angle at which the sun's rays fall on the earth's surface becomes more and more oblique, and hence, the amount of solar energy received per unit area decreases. Beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the angle at which the sun's rays fall on the earth's surface is always oblique, and hence, the mid-day sun never shines directly overhead.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn due to the earth's tilt. The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are the latitudes where the sun's rays fall directly overhead during the summer solstice and the winter solstice, respectively.
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The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond thea)Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricornb)Tropic of Capricorn and Antarctic Circlec)Tropic of Cancer and Arctic circled)Equator and Arctic circleCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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