Understanding Earth's Rotation and Day Length

The video explains why December has the longest days despite having the fewest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere. It discusses the concept of a solar day, which is longer than 24 hours due to Earth's rotation and orbit around the Sun. The Earth's elliptical orbit and axial tilt cause variations in day length, with the longest solar day occurring on December 22nd. This results in a shift in solar noon and affects sunrise and sunset times around the solstice.

Why does December have the fewest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere?

• Because the Earth is closest to the Sun

• Because the Earth's axis is tilted away from the Sun

• Because the Earth's orbit is perfectly circular

• Because the Earth rotates faster in December

What is a solar day?

• The average length of a day according to modern clocks

• The time it takes for the Earth to complete one rotation

• The time it takes for a line of longitude to face the Sun again

• The time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun

How does Earth's elliptical orbit affect the length of a solar day?

• It has no effect on the length of a solar day

• It makes the solar day exactly 24 hours long

• It shortens the solar day when Earth is farthest from the Sun

• It lengthens the solar day when Earth is closest to the Sun

What happens to Earth's rotation when it is closest to the Sun?

• It stops rotating

• It rotates faster, lengthening the solar day

• It rotates slower, shortening the solar day

• It rotates at a constant speed

How does Earth's axial tilt affect the length of a solar day?

• It has no effect on the solar day

• It lengthens the solar day when tilted towards the Sun

• It shortens the solar day when tilted towards the Sun

• It makes the solar day exactly 24 hours long

What is the degree of additional rotation required due to Earth's axial tilt?

• 0.088 degrees

• 0.033 degrees

• 1 degree

• 0.5 degrees

What is significant about December 22nd in terms of solar day length?

• It marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere

• It has the same solar day length as June 22nd

• It has the longest solar day of the year

• It has the shortest solar day of the year

How many extra seconds are added to the solar day on December 22nd?

• 40 seconds

• 30 seconds

• 20 seconds

• 10 seconds

What happens to solar noon around the solstice?

• It shifts later by 30 seconds each day

• It remains at the same time each day

• It occurs exactly at 12:00 PM

• It shifts earlier by 30 seconds each day

Why does the earliest sunset occur before the solstice?

• Because of the Earth's rotation speed

• Because of the increasing disparity between solar and clock time

• Because of the Earth's axial tilt

• Because of the Earth's elliptical orbit