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ES Regents - Sun's Path

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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?

a)

March 21

b)

June 21

c)

September 23

d)

December 21

2.

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?

a)
b)
c)
d)
3.

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?

a)

b)

23 1/2 ° N

c)

63 1/2 ° S

d)

90° N

4.

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?

a)

E

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

5.

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?

a)

Plattsburgh

b)

Mount Marcy

c)

New York City

d)

Slide Mountain

6.

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?

a)

Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)

b)

Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S)

c)

Equator (0°)

d)

Antarctic Circle (66.5° S)

7.

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

a)

longer days than nights

b)

12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness

c)

the lowest annual altitude of the Sun at solar noon

d)

the highest annual altitude of the Sun at solar noon

8.

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)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

9.

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?

a)

at the Equator

b)

at the South Pole

c)

at the North Pole

d)

in Oswego, New York

10.

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

a)

increase, only

b)

decrease, only

c)

increase, then decrease

d)

decrease, then increase

11.

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows sunlight entering a room through the same window at three different times on the same winter day.


The apparent change in the Sun’s position shown in the diagram is best explained by

a)

the Sun rotating at a rate of 15° per hour

b)

Earth rotating at a rate of 15° per hour

c)

the Sun’s axis tilted at an angle of 23.5 °

d)

Earth’s axis tilted at an angle of 23.5 °

12.

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows sunlight entering a room through the same window at three different times on the same winter day.


This room is located in a building in New York State. On which side of the building is the window located?

a)

north

b)

south

c)

west

d)

east

13.

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows the angle of the Sun’s noontime rays received at different Earth latitudes on May 1.


Which changes can be expected to occur at 45° N over the next 30 days?

a)

The duration of insolation will decrease and the temperature will decrease.

b)

The duration of insolation will decrease and the temperature will increase.

c)

The duration of insolation will increase and the temperature will decrease.

d)

The duration of insolation will increase and the temperature will increase.

14.

Base your answer on the diagram, which shows the angle of the Sun’s noontime rays received at different Earth latitudes on May 1.


At which latitude can the noontime Sun be observed in the northern part of the sky?

a)

b)

30° N

c)

60° N

d)

90° N

15.

Which model best represents the apparent path of the Sun observed at various times during the year at the Equator?

a)
b)
c)
d)
16.

On June 21, where will the Sun appear to rise for an observer located in New York State?

a)

due west

b)

due east

c)

north of due east

d)

south of due east

17.

How many times will the Sun’s perpendicular rays cross Earth’s Equator between March 1 of one year and March 1 of the next year?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

18.

Base your answers on the diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram shows a pin perpendicular to a card. The card was placed outdoors in the sunlight on a horizontal surface. The positions of the pin’s shadow on the card were recorded several times on March 21 by an observer in New York State.


Which diagram best represents the length of the pin’s shadow at 2 p.m. on March 21?

a)
b)
c)
d)
19.

Base your answers on the diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram shows a pin perpendicular to a card. The card was placed outdoors in the sunlight on a horizontal surface. The positions of the pin’s shadow on the card were recorded several times on March 21 by an observer in New York State.


The changing location of the pin’s shadow on March 21 is caused by

a)

the Sun’s rotation

b)

the Sun’s revolution

c)

Earth’s rotation

d)

Earth’s revolution

20.

The intensity of insolation at solar noon from November 1 to February 1 in New York State will

a)

decrease, only

b)

increase, only

c)

decrease, then increase

d)

increase, then decrease

21.

In New York State, the number of hours of daylight each day increases continuously from

a)

March 1 to May 1

b)

June 1 to August 1

c)

September 1 to November 1

d)

December 1 to February 1

22.

In New York, which day has the shortest duration of insolation?

a)

March 21

b)

June 21

c)

June 21

d)

December 21

23.

How many degrees does the Sun appear to move across the sky in four hours?

a)

60°

b)

45°

c)

15°

d)

24.
On which day of the year would the intensity of insolation at Kingston, New York, most likely be greatest?
a)
March 21
b)
June 21
c)
September 21
d)
December 21
25.
State the day represented by Sun's Path Z.
a)
September 23
b)
December 21
c)
March 20
d)
June 21
26.
What time of the day is represented by the location of the Sun on the diagram?
a)
6 AM
b)
9 AM
c)
12 PM
d)
6 PM
27.

What latitude experiences direct sun rays on December 21st?

a)

23.5°N

b)

0° (Equator)

c)

23.5° S

d)

66.5° S

28.
Very cold climates occur at Earth’s North and South Poles because the polar regions
a)
are usually farthest from the Sun
b)
absorb the greatest amount of insolation
c)
receive the most hours of daylight
d)
receive low-angle insolation
29.
Locations in the Northern Hemisphere are warmest in summer because sunlight in summer is
a)
least intense and of shortest duration
b)
least intense and of longest duration
c)
most intense and of shortest duration
d)
most intense and of longest duration
30.
What is the primary reason the United States is warmer in July than in February?
a)
The Earth is traveling faster in its orbit in February.
b)
The altitude of the noon Sun is greater in February.
c)
The insolation in the United States is greater in July.
d)
The Earth is closer to the Sun in July.
31.
The factor that contributes most of the seasonal temperature changes during one year is the changing
a)
speed at which the Earth travels in its orbit around the Sun
b)
angle at which the Sun’s rays strike the Earth’s surface
c)
distance between the Earth and the Sun
d)
energy given off by the Sun
32.
In New York State, the risk of sunburn is greatest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on summer days because
a)
The air temperature is hot
b)
The angle of insolation is high
c)
Earth's surface reflects most of the sunlight
d)
The Sun is closest to the Earth
33.
What happens to the angle of insolation between 6 am and solar noon?
a)
it decreases
b)
it increases
c)
it remains the same
d)
it increases then decreases
34.
What factor has the greatest influence on the number of daylight hours a particular location receives?
a)
latitude
b)
longitude
c)
diameter of the Sun
d)
distance from the Sun
35.

What would most likely happen to New York State’s summer and winter temperatures if the tilt of Earth’s axis increased from 23.5° to 30°?

a)

Both the summers and winters would become cooler.

b)

Both the summers and winters would become warmer.

c)

The summers would become cooler and the winters would become warmer.

d)

The summers would become warmer and the winters would become cooler.