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Angle of the Sun in the Sky
CLAIM:
Earth’s tilt and revolution around the Sun cause changes in the height of the Sun in
the sky throughout the year. The height of the sun is also known as its angle in the
sky, or altitude. If the sun is directly overhead, it is at an angle of 90˚. If it is on
the horizon, it is at an angle of 0˚. These factors combine to change the length of a
day throughout the year and in turn cause seasons on Earth. Is the Sun ever directly
above our head at a 90˚angle in Ramsey? Explain why or why not in your claim.
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EVIDENCE: Begin collecting your data by following steps 1 and 2 below.
Step 1. On the map below, plot each city and label it.
 Ramsey, NJ (41˚N, 75˚W)
 Quito, Ecuador (0˚, 78˚W)
 Montecido, Uruguay (34˚S, 56˚W)
Step 2. As you can see from the map, one location is in the Northern Hemisphere,
another is in the Southern Hemisphere and the last is on the Equator. Let’s see
how the angle of the Sun in the sky changes throughout the year in these locations.
 Using PENCIL, use the data below to make a line graph of the Angle of
the Sun versus the Month of the year for each location. Use the data
graphs on the next page.
 Be sure to connect the dots to make a line graph for each location.
Ramsey, NJ
Month (21st
Quito, Ecuador
Montecido, Uruguay
Month (21st
or 22nd)
Angle of the Sun
(Sun’s height)
Month
or 22nd)
Angle of the Sun
(Sun’s height)
January
28˚
January
69˚
January
68˚
February
37˚
February
78˚
February
60˚
March
47˚
March
90˚
March
49˚
April
60˚
April
79˚
April
38˚
May
68˚
May
71˚
May
28˚
June
73˚
June
67˚
June
24˚
July
71˚
July
68˚
July
26˚
August
63˚
August
76˚
August
33˚
September
52˚
September
90˚
September
44˚
October
41˚
October
82˚
October
55˚
November
31˚
November
72˚
November
66˚
December
26˚
December
67˚
December
70˚
Data Graphs:
Ramsey, NJ
(21st or
22nd)
Angle of the Sun
(Sun’s height)
Angle of the Sun
(height)
Month
Angle of the Sun
(height)
Quito, Ecuador
Month
Angle of the Sun
Montecido, Uruguay
Month
EVIDENCE: Now you can use the
data you have collected on your graphs above to
make sense of it by completing the tables below.
Find the months…
Ramsey (NH)
(Northern Hemisphere)
Quito
(Equator)
Montecido (SH)
(Southern Hemisphere)
What Month(s) is the
Sun the highest in sky
What Month(s) is the
Sun the lowest in sky
Find the seasons…
Ramsey (NH)
(Northern Hemisphere)
Montecido (SH)
(Southern Hemisphere)
When the Sun is highest in the sky in
the Northern Hemisphere, what is
the season for the following areas?
When the Sun is lowest in the sky in
the Northern Hemisphere, what is
the season for the following areas?
1. Which season is being shown in the northern hemisphere? _____________________________
2. Describe what is happening to the angle of the Sun’s rays as they are hitting the Earth in the
northern hemisphere.
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3. If the Earth was not tilted on its axis what season would we experience in Ramsey?
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REASONING: Use your data to explain if the Sun is ever directly above our heads
(angle of 90˚) in Ramsey. Explain your reasoning in detail and be sure to restate your
claim in your explanation.
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