Why does the sun appear to remain lower in the sky on the winter solstice than the rest of the year
The apparent lower position of the sun in the sky during the winter solstice is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. The Earth's axis is inclined at approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun. This tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
During the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (around December 21st), the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun. As a result, sunlight reaches the lower latitudes of the Earth at a steeper angle, causing the sun to appear lower in the sky.
Conversely, during the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (around June 21st), the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, allowing sunlight to reach higher latitudes more directly. This makes the sun appear higher in the sky during the summer months.
It's important to note that these perceptual differences occur due to the Earth's tilt and the resulting changes in the angle at which sunlight reaches different latitudes, rather than any physical movement of the sun itself.
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During the winter solstice, the sun appears lower in the sky because of the way the Earth is tilted. The Earth is like a spinning top, and it is tilted at an angle. This tilt affects how much sunlight reaches different parts of the Earth throughout the year.
During the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. This means that the sunlight has to travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere to reach us. As a result, the sun appears lower in the sky and doesn't get as high up as it does during other times of the year.
On the other hand, during the summer solstice, the North Pole is tilted towards the sun. So the sunlight has to travel through less of the Earth's atmosphere, making the sun appear higher in the sky.
So, the position of the sun in the sky during the winter solstice is not because the sun is actually changing its position, but because of how the Earth is tilted.