Black objects absorb energy and white objects reflect.
 

 
Apparent diameter of objects (sun, moon) gets larger when the object is closer to Earth.
 

click here to restart the animation below

Look at the date in the upper right hand corner. At different times of the year, we are closer to mars, which is evident by the fact it is larger.

 
Vertical rays (overhead sun) can only occur between
23.5°N and 23.5°S.
 
 
Be familiar with this chart.
 

DATE (APPROXIMATE)

LATITUDE OF SUN'S DIRECT RAYS

DIRECTION OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET

ALTITUDE OF NOON SUN

LENGTH OF DAYLIGHT

Sept. 23
(Autumnal Equinox)

Equator
(0°)

Rises due East
Sets due West

48°

12 hours

December 21
(Winter Solstice)

Tropic of Capricorn
(23.5°S)

Rises in South East
Sets in South West

24.5°
(lowest)

8 hours 
(shortest day)

March 21 
(Vernal Equinox)

Equator
(0°)

Rises due East 
Sets due West

48°

12 hours

June 21 
(Summer Solstice)

Tropic of Cancer
(23.5°N) 

Rises in North East 
Sets in North West

71.5°
(highest)

16 hours
( longest day)
 
Winds curve to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere due to the earth rotation. Called the Coriolis Effect.
 
 
Energy moves from source to sink: high to low.
 
 
Air moves clockwise and outward around a high.
 
 
Air moves counterclockwise and inward around a low.
 
 
Good absorbers of radiation are good radiators.
 

Soil absorbs heat very well, which is evident by the rapid increase in temperature ont he graph.
Soil also radiate that heat quickly. Water takes longer to heat up and longer to cool.

 
Hottest part of the year is in July in the Northern Hemisphere.
 
 

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