Earth Science Regents Sun's Path

The diagram shows Earth on a particular day in its orbit around the Sun. The dashed line represents Earth’s axis.

Which date is represented by the diagram?

• March 21

• June 21

• September 23

• December 21

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Base your answers on the diagram, which shows the tilt of Earth on its axis in relation to the Sun on one particular day. Points A through E are locations on Earth’s surface. Point D is located in New York State. The dashed line represents Earth’s axis.

Which diagram best represents the angle of the Sun’s rays received at location C at noon on this day?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answers on the diagram, which shows the tilt of Earth on its axis in relation to the Sun on one particular day. Points A through E are locations on Earth’s surface. Point D is located in New York State. The dashed line represents Earth’s axis.

What is the latitude of location A?

• 0°

• 23 1/2 ° N

• 63 1/2 ° S

• 90° N

Base your answers on the diagram, which shows the tilt of Earth on its axis in relation to the Sun on one particular day. Points A through E are locations on Earth’s surface. Point D is located in New York State. The dashed line represents Earth’s axis.

On this day, which location has the greatest number of hours of daylight?

• E

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer on the diagram, which represents the position of the Sun with respect to Earth’s surface at solar noon on certain dates. The latitudes of six locations on the same line of longitude are shown. The observer is located at 42° N in New York State. The date for the Sun at position A has been deliberately left blank.

At which New York State location could the observer be located?

• Plattsburgh

• Mount Marcy

• New York City

• Slide Mountain

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer on the diagram, which represents the position of the Sun with respect to Earth’s surface at solar noon on certain dates. The latitudes of six locations on the same line of longitude are shown. The observer is located at 42° N in New York State. The date for the Sun at position A has been deliberately left blank.

When the Sun is at position A, which latitude receives the most direct rays of the Sun?

• Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)

• Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S)

• Equator (0°)

• Antarctic Circle (66.5° S)

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer on the diagram, which represents the position of the Sun with respect to Earth’s surface at solar noon on certain dates. The latitudes of six locations on the same line of longitude are shown. The observer is located at 42° N in New York State. The date for the Sun at position A has been deliberately left blank.

When the Sun is at the March 21 position, New York State will usually have

• longer days than nights

• 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness

• the lowest annual altitude of the Sun at solar noon

• the highest annual altitude of the Sun at solar noon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows a model of the apparent path and position of the Sun in relation to an observer at four different locations, A, B, C, and D, on Earth’s surface on the dates indicated. The zenith (z) and the actual position of the Sun in the model at the time of the observation are shown. [The zenith is the point directly over the observer.]

According to the Sun’s actual position shown in the diagrams, the most intense insolation is being received by the observer at location

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows a model of the apparent path and position of the Sun in relation to an observer at four different locations, A, B, C, and D, on Earth’s surface on the dates indicated. The zenith (z) and the actual position of the Sun in the model at the time of the observation are shown. [The zenith is the point directly over the observer.]

Where on Earth’s surface is the observer at location C located?

• at the Equator

• at the South Pole

• at the North Pole

• in Oswego, New York

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows a model of the apparent path and position of the Sun in relation to an observer at four different locations, A, B, C, and D, on Earth’s surface on the dates indicated. The zenith (z) and the actual position of the Sun in the model at the time of the observation are shown. [The zenith is the point directly over the observer.]

From sunrise to sunset at location B, the length of the observer’s shadow will

• increase, only

• decrease, only

• increase, then decrease

• decrease, then increase

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1