Seasons and Shadows

1. The model below shows the apparent path of the Sun 4. A student in New York State looked toward the
as seen by an observer in New York State on the first eastern horizon to observe sunrise at three different
day of one of the four seasons. times during the year. The student drew the following
diagram that shows the positions of sunrise, A, B, and
C, during this one-year period.

Which list correctly pairs the location of sunrise to the

time of the year?
1) A—June 21
This apparent path of the Sun was observed on the B—March 21
first day of C—December 21
1) spring 2) summer 2) A—December 21
3) fall 4) winter B—March 21
C—June 21
2. The diagram below represents the apparent path of the
3) A—March 21
Sun as seen by an observer at 65° N on March 21.
B—June 21
C—December 21
4) A—June 21
B—December 21
C—March 21
5. The diagram below shows the shadow cast by a
telephone pole on March 21 at solar noon at a
location in New York State.

The Sun's position shown in the diagram was

observed closest to which time of day?
1) 9 a.m. 2) 11 a.m.
3) 3 p.m. 4) 6 p.m.
3. Which statement best describes the position of the
Sun at sunrise and sunset as seen by an observer in
New York State on June 21?
1) The Sun rises north of due east and sets north of
due west.
Which shadow was cast by the same telephone pole
2) The Sun rises south of due east and sets south of
on June 21 at solar noon?
due west.
3) The Sun rises north of due east and sets south of 1) 2) 3) 4)
due west.
4) The Sun rises south of due east and sets north of
due west.
 Seasons and Shadows

6. The diagram below represents the horizon and the Sun's apparent paths, A, B, and C, on three different
dates, as viewed from the same location in New York State.

Which table correctly shows the dates on which the apparent paths of the Sun were observed?
1) 2)

3) 4)

7. What happens to the angle of the Sun on June 21 8. In the diagram below, a vertical post casts shadows
between solar noon and 6 p.m. in New York State? A, B, C, and D at four different times during the
day. Which shadow was cast when the Sun was at
1) It decreases steadily.
the greatest altitude?
2) It increases steadily.
3) It remains the same.
4) It first increases and then decreases.

1) shadow A 2) shadow B
3) shadow C 4) shadow D
 Seasons and Shadows

Base your answers to questions 9 and 10on diagram below, which represents the Sun’s apparent paths
and the solar noon positions for an observer at 42° N latitude on December 21, September 23, and
June 21.

9. Which graph best shows the altitude of the Sun, as measured by the observer located at 42° N, at
various times on December 21?
1) 2)

3) 4)

10.In which direction will sunrise occur on June 21?

1) north of due west 2) north of due east
3) south of due west 4) south of due east
 Seasons and Shadows

Base your answers to questions 11and 12on the diagram below, which represents a model of the sky
(celestial sphere) for an observer in New York State. The curved arrow represents the Sun’s apparent
path for part of one day. The altitude of Polaris is also indicated.

11.On which date could this observation of the Sun’s apparent path have been made?
1) March 21 2) July 21 3) October 21 4) December 21
12.According to this diagram, what is the Sun’s altitude at solar noon?
1) 23.5° 2) 42° 3) 48° 4) 90°

13. Base your answer to the following question on the 14. The diagram below represents a plastic hemisphere
diagram below, which shows numbered positions of upon which lines have been drawn to show the
the Sun at four different times along the Sun’s apparent paths of the Sun at a location in New York
apparent daily path, as seen by an observer in New State on the first day of each season. Letters A
Jersey. Numbers 1 through represent apparent through I represent points on the paths.
positions of the Sun.

The observer had the longest shadow when the Sun Which point represents the sunrise location on the
was at position first day of winter?
1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4 1) G 2) F 3) E 4) D
 Seasons and Shadows

15. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, 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
1) increase, only 2) decrease, only
3) increase, then decrease 4) decrease, then increase
16. Base your answer to the following question on the 17. The cartoon characters below are watching the Sun
diagram below, which shows numbered positions of set.
the Sun at four different times along the Sun's
apparent daily path, as seen by an observer in New
York. Numbers 1 through represent apparent
positions of the Sun.

Toward which general direction are the characters

looking?
During which day of the year is the Sun most likely 1) north 2) south 3) east 4) west
to follow the apparent path shown?
1) March 21 2) June 21
3) October 21 4) December 21
 Seasons and Shadows

18. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which shows the apparent paths of
the Sun at the beginning of each season for an observer at a location in Connecticut.

What is the time interval from the Sun's apparent path A to the Sun's apparent path C?
1) 1 day 2) 1 month 3) 6 months 4) 12 months
19. Base your answer to the following question on the diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The diagrams, labeled A, B, and C, represent equal-sized portions of the Sun's rays striking
Earth's surface at 23.5° N latitude at noon at three different times of the year. The angle at which the
Sun's rays hit Earth's surface and the relative areas of Earth's surface receiving the rays at the three
different angles of insolation are shown.

As the angle of the Sun's rays striking Earth's surface at noon changes from 90° to 43°, the length of a
shadow cast by an object will
1) decrease 2) increase
3) decrease, then increase 4) increase, then decrease
 Seasons and Shadows

20. Which graph best shows the length of a shadow cast

from sunrise to sunset by a flagpole in New York
State?
1)

2)

3)

4)