Instructions will be uploaded later. Plotting the position of the sun at the same time each day Pre – lab thought – provoking questions: 1) How does the Sun appear to move in the sky? Does it appear to follow the same path each day, or does the apparent path of the Sun change? If so, HOW? 2) What, if anything, have you noticed about the location of the Sun at noon each day, over the course of a year? Is it the same, or does it change? 3) How many days of observation do you think would it take to notice whether or not there were any changes in the path of the Sun across the sky? Does it matter what time of year you make these observations? WHADDYA THINK? Jot down your answers before doing the lab! In this project you will find the altitude and azimuth of the sun every day at the same time for one month. You will make a data table and record the date, time of observation, and altitude and azimuth of the Sun, being sure to do this at the same time every day. At the end of a month you will plot the position of the Sun for each observation. First, be sure you know the definitions of the following terms: zenith, horizon, altitude, azimuth Food for thought: You know that the Earth revolves around the Sun along a path which is called the ecliptic. The ecliptic is an imaginary plane in space which slices through the Sun’s equator, and in which the orbits of all the planets except Pluto lie. You also know that the Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5o with respect to the plane of the ecliptic. With this in mind, would you like to revise any of your answers to the pre-lab questions?
