Question

11. Long answer questions
(a) What is the Winter Solstice?
(b) Explain the Summer Solstice in detail.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

(a) Summer solstice: The Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun on 21 st June. As the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer, these areas receive more heat. But the areas size to the poles receive less heat due to the slanting rays of the sun. The North Pole is inclined towards the sun the places beyond the Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for about six months. Since a large area of the Northern Hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night at these places occur on 21 st June. These conditions are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere at this time. It is winter season there having longer nights and shorter days. This position of the earth is known as the summer solstice.

(b) Winter solstice: On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it. As the suns rays fall vertically at the Tropic of Capricorn, a larger portion of the Southern Hemisphere gets light. Hence, the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer having longer days and shorter nights. This position of the earth is called the winter solstice.