Insolation and Seasons

The diagram below indicates regions of daylight and darkness on Earth on the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Four latitudes are labeled A, B, C, and D. What location receives the least intense insolation?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

During the month of January, at which location in New York State is the Sun lowest in the sky at solar noon?

• Massena
• Niagara Falls
• Utica
• New York City

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The positions of Earth in its orbit on December 21 and June 21 are indicated. The positions of perihelion (when Earth is closest to the Sun) and aphelion (when Earth is farthest from the Sun) are also indicated. Both perihelion and aphelion occur approximately two weeks after the dates shown. About how many months will it take for the Earth to get from perihelion to aphelion?

• 6 months

• 2 months

• 12 months

• 8 months

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Equal areas of which surface will absorb the most insolation?

• Partially melted snowfield
• Blacktop parking lot
• White sand beach
• Lake surface

If the tilt of Earth’s axis were increased from 23.5° to 30°, summers in New York State would become

• Cooler, and winters would become cooler
• Cooler, and winters would become warmer
• Warmer, and winters would become cooler
• Warmer, and winters would become warmer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Most of which type of electromagnetic radiation is given off by Earth’s surface at night?

• gamma rays
• ultraviolet light  
• visible light
• infrared rays

The diagram below represents Earth as viewed from space. Letter A represents the approximate angle of tilt between Earth’s rotational axis and a line (XY) perpendicular to the plane of Earth’s orbit.   What is the value of the angle represented by letter A?

• 15.0°
• 23.5°
• 24.5°
• 30.0°

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which change in seasons occurs in the Northern Hemisphere at position D?

• Winter is ending and spring is beginning.
• Spring is ending and summer is beginning.
• Summer is ending and fall is beginning.
• Fall is ending and winter is beginning.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

As the angle of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at noon changes from 90° to 43°, the length of a shadow cast by an object will

• Decrease
• Increase
• Decrease, then increase
• Increase, then decrease

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which graph best shows the duration of insolation at this location as the angle of insolation changes?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4