NDA 2025 · PYQ · Geography / Earth's Motion and Solstices · hard
Which one of the following latitudes will experience a minimum angle of the Sun's rays when it is Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer
The correct answer is D: Tropic of Capricorn. On the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (June 21), the Sun's rays fall vertically (90° angle) on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N). The angle of the Sun's rays decreases as we move away from the Tropic of Cancer toward the south.
A.Arctic Circle
B.Equator
C.Tropic of Cancer
D.Tropic of Capricorn✓ Correct
Explanation
On the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (June 21), the Sun's rays fall vertically (90° angle) on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N). The angle of the Sun's rays decreases as we move away from the Tropic of Cancer toward the south. The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S) is the farthest from the Tropic of Cancer among the given options (separated by 47°), so it experiences the minimum angle of incidence of Sun's rays on this date. The Arctic Circle experiences the Sun at the horizon (midnight sun phenomenon), but at noon the Sun is at about 47°. At the Tropic of Capricorn, the noon Sun's altitude is only about 43°, the lowest among the options.
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