Sun position and time – basic principles
How it works
The sun’s position describes the position of the Sun in the sky at different times of day and seasons. It influences the length of day and night as well as the casting of shadows. The apparent daily movement of the Sun is caused by the Earth’s rotation, while the seasonal changes are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis and the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The highest sun position is reached at solar noon (highest sun position). Time measurement is connected with the sun’s position: local solar time is based on the sun’s position, and time zones combine larger areas into a common time. The sundial is a historical example of the use of the sun’s position for time measurement.
The sun’s position changes over the course of the day and the year because of the Earth’s rotation and the tilt of the Earth’s axis; this results in different day lengths and shadow patterns that can be used to determine time. The highest sun position of a day is reached at solar noon.
An example
Why is the Sun higher at solar noon in summer than in winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Astronomy. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.