You will need
Measuring tape
Notebook
Pen
We have all learnt about solstices and equinoxes in school. It’s time to put the theory into practice. Grab a friend and figure out whether the day when the solstice occurs is actually the day when the sun is farther from the equator.
INSTRUCTIONS
l. For this experiment to work, it must be carried out during 4 specific days in the year, namely the summer solstice (3rd week of June) and winter solstice (3rd week of December); and Equinox (3rd week in
March and 3rd week in September).
- During the weeks mentioned above, especially the
solstice weeks, choose a particular spot outside and remember it. - Ask your friend to measure the
length of your shadow throughout
the day, at regular intervals. - Note down the
measurements in
your notebook.
RESULT
If you have tried this experiment in the third week of June or December, you will have noticed that a specific date would be the day when the length of your shadow is smaller than it is on any other day. This is because of the fact that during the summer and winter solstice the sun is farthest away from the earth’s equator, hence casting shadows which are shorter than they are at the same time on any other day. You could try the same experiment in March and September and be surprised with the results.