Page 33 - Geography for Secondary Schools Student’s Book Form One
P. 33
Geography for Secondary Schools
Student’s Book Form One
NP March 21 st
Spring Equinox
SP
NP Sun at Tropic NP
June 21 st of Cancer December 22 nd
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Summer Solstice Sun at Tropic Winter Solstice
Sun at the Equator NP
SP of Capricorn SP
SP September 23 rd
Autumn Equinox
Figure 3.5: The four seasons of the year
(ii) Changes of overhead sun
The position on Earth where the Sun is directly overhead changes throughout the year
due to the tilt of the earth’s axis and its elliptical orbit around the Sun. The overhead sun
appears to move northwards and southwards between latitudes 23½ N and 23½ S, that
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is, between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. For example, during the summer solstice
in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, while
during the winter solstice, it is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn. The places
south of the Tropic of Capricorn and north of the Tropic of Cancer never experience
overhead sun at any time of the year. This change of overhead sun creates the changing
seasons and variations in daylight hours at different latitudes (Figure 3.6).
NP
March 21 st
Spring Equinox
NP NP
Sun at Tropic
June 21 st of Cancer
Summer Solstice SUN December 22 nd
Sun at Tropic Winter Solstice
SP of Capricorn
NP
September 23 rd
SP Autumn Equinox
Figure 3.6: Apparent movement of the overhead sun
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