Download ASTR_PNE_pathofthesun_V01.docx

Practice Problems on
“Motion” – available on
D2L
If you could see stars during the day, the drawing
below shows what the sky would look like at noon on
a given day. The Sun is near the stars of the
constellation Gemini. Near which constellation would
you have expect the Sun to be located at sunrise on
this day? Sun
1. Leo
Gemini
2. Cancer
Taurus
Cancer
3. Gemini
Leo
4. Taurus
Aries
 East
West 
South
5. Aries
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Celestial Sphere
Rotation

Path of
Star B 1
Celestial
Sphere
Path of
Star A
4
North Star
2


North
Star
3
Earth’s
Equator
Horizon
6 PM

North
Celestial
Sphere
Rotation
At what time will Star B be located high in the
Northwestern sky?
1. 4:00 am
2. 10:00 am
3. 2:00 pm
4. 7:00 pm
5. 1:00 am
Celestial Sphere
Rotation

Path of
Star B 1
Celestial
Sphere
Path of
Star A
4
North Star
2


North
Star
3
Earth’s
Equator
Horizon
6 PM

North
Celestial
Sphere
Rotation
If you were able to see the motion of star B be at
Noon, over a period of 15 minutes what direction
would it appear to move?
A. west (to the left)
B. east (to the right)
C. South (out of the page)
D. away from the horizon (up)
E. toward the horizon (down)
The changing position of the Sun during the year!
How can we describe the motion of the sun
in the sky?
meridian
east
X Zenith or overhead
south
west
How can we describe the motion of the sun in the sky?
meridian
zenith
LUNCH!!
PM or post
meridian
AM or ante
meridian
east
south
west
Where is the Sun at noon today?
zenith
here or
there?
east
south
west
Where is the Sun at noon today?
zenith
What about
tomorrow at
noon?
there
east
south
west
What about the path of the Sun?
zenith
What about
tomorrow at
noon?
there
JUST A
LITTLE
LOWER !!
east
south
west
Where is the Sun throughout the year?
Mar 21
(Vernal)
and
Sept 21
(Autumnal)
Equinox
zenith
June 21
Summer
Solstice
Dec 21
Winter
Solstice
east
south
west
The time for
the sun to
go from
being
highest in
the sky at
noon, to
lowest and
back to
highest
again is…
east
zenith
south
ONE
YEAR
west
Where would the Sun be on your birthday?
Position of the Sun when photographed
during the day of the winter and summer
solstice
Altitude of the Sun Animation
• Note where the sun rises and sets
• Note how the altitude of the sun changes
during a day and over the course of the
year.
• Note how the shadow changes during a
day and over the course of the year.
Tutorial: Path of the Sun – p.17
• Work with a partner!
• Read the instructions and questions carefully.
• Discuss the concepts and your answers with
one another.
• Come to a consensus answer you both agree
on.
• If you get stuck or are not sure of your answer,
ask another group.
• If you get really stuck or don’t understand what
the Lecture Tutorial is asking, ask one of us for
help.
Under which of the following circumstances
will a vertical flagpole not cast a shadow as
seen from the continental United States?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
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every day at noon
every day at the time when the sun is highest in the sky
when the sun is highest in the sky on the summer solstice
when the sun is highest in the sky on the winter solstice
none of the above
If you are located in the continental U.S. on the
first day of October, how will the position of the
Sun at noon be different two weeks later?
A. It will have moved toward the north.
B. It will have moved to a position higher in the
sky.
C. It will stay in the same position.
D. It will have moved to a position closer to the
horizon.
E. It will have moved toward the west.
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For an observer in the
continental U.S., which of
the three shadow plots,
shown at right, correctly
depicts the Sun’s motion
for one day?
A.
B.
C.
D.
NORTH
x
x
Shadow
plot B
WEST
x
x
x
x
x
Shadow
plot A
x
x
x x x
x
x
x x x x
x
x
x
x
Shadow
plot C
SOUTH
Shadow plot A
Shadow plot B
Shadow plot C
More than one of the plots are possible, on different
days of the year.
E. None of the plots are possible.
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EAST