Days and Years

Here are some sunrise and sunset times for 10 consecutive days

04:44:00      21:22:00
04:45:00      21:22:00
04:45:00      21:22:00
04:46:00      21:21:00
04:46:00      21:21:00
04:47:00      21:21:00
04:48:00      21:21:00
04:48:00      21:20:00
04:49:00      21:20:00
04:50:00      21:19:00
 

What time of year do you think these days were in? Explain your answer.

During the course of a day the Sun appears to move from east to West in the sky. What does this tell us about the Earth?

How is the appearance and motion of the Sun different in summer and in winter?

Below shows the path of the sun in the sky on a day in June. Add another line to show its path on a day in December.

At what time does the Sun usually culminate?

Explain, with diagrams, why days are longer in the summer.

What happens on these days and when do they usually occur?

    Summer solstice     Autumnal equinox     Winter solstice     Vernal equinox

Why was it important for ancient people to know when these days would occur?

Complete this table

Explain, with a diagram, why it is warmer in the summer?

The diagram below shows how far the earth moves round the sun in the time it takes the earth to spin.

Explain how it shows that the time it takes the earth to spin is a bit less than the time between noon and noon. What is the difference in minutes?