In: Physics
The Tropic of Cancer is the most northerly latitude in the northern hemisphere at which the sun is ever directly overhead at noon. The Tropic of Capricorn is the corresponding latitude in the southern hemisphere. What are the latitudes of these tropics?
We know that the Tropic of Cancer is in the northern hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn is in the southern hemisphere.
On about June 22, the North Pole is tilted very close to the sun and the day has the maximum sunlight. Since the earth has a tilt of 23.5°, the noon sun is directly overhead at 23.5o north of the equator. So, the Tropic of Cancer has a latitude of 23.5°N.
Similarly, on December 22, the South Pole is tilted very close to the sun. Since the noon sun is directly overhead at 23.5o south of the equator, the latitude of the Tropic of Capricorn is 23.5°S.
ince the noon sun is directly overhead at 23.5o south of the equator, the latitude of the Tropic of Capricorn is 23.5°S.