Sun Rays are not considered for any similarities between the Tropic of Cancer and the North Pole or between the Tropic of Capricorn and the South Pole. June 21 is the longest day and marks the shortest night in the northern hemisphere.

As Kanyakumari is quite near the equator at 8°4’N the day-night difference is hardly one hour there, and therefore, the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari. Kashmir is over 30° away from the equator and so the difference in duration of day and night is more there and we feel that difference.

Kanyakumari

The summer solstice is the day when the Northern hemisphere experiences its longest period of daylight all year. Winter solstice is the day when the Northern Hemisphere experiences its longest period of night all year.

Words to know for day and night: Day – This is the length of time it takes the Earth to spin all the way around so that you get a night and a day: 24 hours.

Vernal equinox: Date in the spring of the year when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, usually around March 21. Winter solstice: Date on which the Sun’s noontime height is at its lowest in the Northern Hemisphere, usually on December 22.

As the Earth moves around the sun during a year, the northern half of the Earth is tilted towards the sun in the summer, making daytime longer than night. In winter, this reverses; the earth tilts away from the sun and nighttime becomes longer.

Why Does Earth Have Day and Night? Once every 24 hours Earth turns — or rotates on its axis — taking all of us with it. When we are on the side of Earth that is facing the Sun, we have daylight. As Earth continues its spin, we are moved to the side facing away from our Sun, and we have nighttime.

The sun’s light pours outward to illuminate every portion of our solar system so that the space around the sun is almost entirely flooded with light. But there are dark places. These are in the shadows of planets, moons and other objects in orbit around the sun. And it’s these shadows that create night.

At this time, the entire part of the earth from 66 degrees north latitude to 90 degrees north latitude remains under sunlight. This means that the day is longer and the night is shorter. This is why this strange phenomenon occurs in Norway.

You might not realize it, but, from Earth’s surface, you can see the shadow. In fact, it’s easy to see, and you’ve probably already seen it, many times, as day changes to night. That’s because night itself is a shadow. When night falls, you’re standing within the shadow of Earth.

A shadow is an area where direct light from a relatively small source is blocked by some opaque object. If the source is genuinely the only light around, the shadow will be absolutely black, and will have no colour. A shadow is an area where direct light from a relatively small source is blocked by some opaque object.

Shadows are created by light, and only exist in the presence of light. Refusing to acknowledge our shadow leads us to deny the presence of light in us.”

Light Quiz