Download Celestial Sphere and Shadows SC

Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the diagram below on your knowledge of Earth
science. The diagram represents the apparent path of the Sun through the sky as viewed by an
observer in the Northern Hemisphere. Points A,B,C, and D represent four positions of the Sun.
1. What is the approximate time of day when the Sun is at position C?
A) 6 a.m.
B) 9 a.m.
C) 3 p.m.
D) 6 p.m.
2. This apparent path of the Sun through the sky is caused by
A) Earth's revolution around the Sun
C) the Sun's revolution around Earth
B) Earth's rotation on its axis
D) the Sun's rotation on its axis
3. The observer has the longest shadow when the Sun is at position
A) A
B) B
C) C
4. The diagram below shows the noontime shadows cast
by a student and a tree.
D) D
6. Which location on the Earth would the Sun's vertical
rays strike on December 21?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Tropic of Cancer (23 º N)
Equator (0º)
Tropic of Capricorn (23 º S)
South Pole (90º S)
7. During how many days of a calendar year is the Sun
directly overhead at noon in New York?
A) only 1 day
C) 365 days
If the time is solar noon and the student is located in
New York State, in what direction is the student
facing?
A) north B) south C) east
D) west
5. To a nighttime observer on Earth, how many degrees
do the stars appear to move around Polaris in 3
hours?
A) 60°
B) 45°
C) 3°
D) 15°
B) only 2 days
D) 0 days
8. What is the approximate altitude of Polaris when
viewed from New York City?
A) 90°
B) 74°
C) 49°
D) 41°
9. How many degrees does the Sun appear to move
across the sky in four hours?
A) 60°
B) 45°
C) 15°
D) 4°
10. The diagram below represents a plastic hemisphere upon which lines have been drawn to show the
apparent paths of the Sun at a location in New York State on the first day of each season. Letters A
through I represent points on the paths.
Which point represents the sunrise location on the first day of winter?
A) G
B) F
C) E
11.At a location in the Northern Hemisphere, a camera
was placed outside at night with the lens pointing
straight up. The shutter was left open for four hours,
resulting in the star trails shown below.
At which latitude were these star trails observed?
A) 1° N B) 30° N C) 60° N D) 90° N
D) D
12. The diagram below represents the apparent path of the Sun as seen by an observer on June 21 at a
location in New York State.
Which diagram best represents the apparent path of the Sun at this same location on December 21?
A)
B)
C)
D)
13. Base your answer to the following question on the three Sun's path diagrams below and on your
knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams represent the position of the noon Sun along its apparent
daily path as seen by an observer on the first day of three consecutive months (X, Y, and Z). The
observer was located in Utica, New York.
Position A represents the position of the Sun at another time of day during month Z. What is the time
of day when the Sun is at position A?
A) 1 p.m.
B) 5 p.m.
C) 7 a.m.
D) 11 a.m.
Base your answers to questions 14 and 15 on
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.
14. On which date could this observation of the Sun’s apparent path have been made?
A) March 21
B) July 21
C) October 21
D) December 21
15. According to this diagram, what is the Sun's altitude at solar noon?
A) 23.5°
B) 42°
C) 48°
D) 90°