On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours?

Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Arctic Circle

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Question

On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours?

Equator
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Arctic Circle

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

2 and 4 only Quick Verdict: On June 21 (Summer Solstice), the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. Consequently, all latitudes north of the equator experience daylight for more than 12 hours, which includes both the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle. The Equator consistently experiences exactly 12 hours of daylight, and the Tropic of Capricorn (in the Southern Hemisphere) experiences less than 12 hours. Thematic Discussion: The Earth's Tilt and Daylight Variation The Mechanics of the Earth's Tilt: The Earth's axis of rotation is always tilted at an angle of 66.5° to its orbital plane around the Sun (or 23.5° from the perpendicular). Because of this tilt, as the Earth revolves around the Sun, the specific latitude where the Sun’s rays fall vertically does not remain the same. It continuously shifts between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S). During this cycle, the Earth attains four critical positions. The Equinoxes (March 21 & September 23): On March 21 (Vernal Equinox) and September 23 (Autumnal Equinox), the Earth is positioned so that the Sun’s rays fall exactly vertical at the Equator. During these two days, the entire world experiences equal day and night (12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness). Summer Solstice (June 21): Between March 21st and September 23rd, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, experiencing summer, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences winter. Northern Hemisphere: Compared to the duration of the night, daylight is longer than 12 hours. The further poleward you go, the greater the duration of daylight. At mid-summer (June 21), the Tropic of Cancer receives the vertical rays of the Sun. At the Arctic Circle (66.5° N), the sun never sets, resulting in a 24-hour period of continuous daylight. Regions north of the Arctic Circle experiencing this phenomenon are popularly called the Land of Midnight Sun. At the North Pole, there is a 6-month period of continuous daylight. Southern Hemisphere: Conditions are reversed. Daylight is strictly less than 12 hours. On June 21, the Antarctic Circle (66.5° S) witnesses a 24-hour period of continuous night, while the South Pole witnesses a 6-month period of continuous night (from March 21 to September 23). Winter Solstice (December 22): Between September 23rd and March 21st, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, experiencing winter, while the Southern Hemisphere gets summer. Daylight is now longer in the Southern Hemisphere and shorter in the Northern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere: On December 22, the Tropic of Capricorn receives the vertical rays of the Sun. The Antarctic Circle witnesses a 24-hour period of continuous daylight, and the South Pole experiences 6 months of daylight. Northern Hemisphere: Conversely, daylight is less than 12 hours. The Arctic Circle (66.5° N) witnesses a 24-hour period of continuous night, and the North Pole enters its 6-month period of continuous night. (For other details, see the 3rd chapter “Motions of the Earth” in the 6th Class NCERT book “The Earth : Our Habitat”).