Collect weather reports of seven successive days in the winter months (preferably December). Collect similar reports for summer months (preferably June). Now prepare a table for sunrise and sunset time as shown:
Table
June | December | ||||
Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
[Note : The timings filled here are for the year 2009. Students may fill this with the latest available data.]
Try to answer the following questions:
(i) Is there any difference in the time of sunrise during summer and winter?
(ii) When do you find that sun rises earlier?
(iii) Do you also find that any difference in the time of sunset during the month of June and December?
(iv) When are the days longer?
(v) When are the nights longer?
(vi) Why are the days sometimes longer and sometimes shorter?
(vii) Plot the length of the day against the days chosen in June and December.
June | December | ||||
Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
5 | 05:23 | 19:16 | 5 | 06:59 | 17:24 |
6 | 05:23 | 19:17 | 6 | 07:00 | 17:24 |
7 | 05:23 | 19:17 | 7 | 07:01 | 17:24 |
8 | 05:23 | 19:18 | 8 | 07:02 | 17:24 |
9 | 05:23 | 19:18 | 9 | 07:02 | 17:24 |
10 | 05:22 | 19:19 | 10 | 07:03 | 17:25 |
11 | 05:22 | 19:19 | 11 | 07:04 | 17:25 |
(i) Yes.
(ii) Sun rises earlier during summer.
(iii) Yes. Sun sets earlier during winter.
(iv) During summer, the days are longer.
(v) During winter, the nights are longer.
(vi) Earth revolves around the sun. During different times, the angle of earth with the sun changes. This cause the difference in length of day and night.
(vii)
Graph showing the lengths of days for a week in the months of June and December.