Question

1. which of these describes the differences in sunlight striking earth at different latitudes? circle all that apply.

a. the intensity of the suns energy received at the equator is greater than the intensity of the energy received at the poles.
b. sunlight strikes at a greater angle at the equator, which spreads out the sunlight.
c. as you move away from the equator, the rays of sunlight striking earth are no longer parallel.
d. sunlight passes through less atmosphere at the equator, so more sunlight gets through, which makes locations around the equator hotter.
analyze how earths shape affects
patterns of sunlight

1. if earth were flat instead of curved, how would that affect temperatures from pole to pole? explain how the range of temperatures at noon at different latitudes on a cube - shaped planet would compare to temperatures on our spherical earth.
2. draw to the right of the cube, draw a model of the way the suns rays would strike a cube - shaped planet.

Explanation:

18.

• Option A: The equator receives more direct sunlight (higher intensity) compared to the poles which receive more spread - out sunlight (lower intensity). This is because of the angle at which sunlight hits different latitudes.
• Option B: Sunlight strikes at a smaller (more perpendicular) angle at the equator, which means the energy is more concentrated. At higher latitudes (poles), the angle is larger (more oblique), spreading out the sunlight.
• Option C: Sunlight rays are parallel. This statement is incorrect. The difference in sunlight intensity at different latitudes is due to the curvature of the Earth and the angle of incidence, not the parallelism (or lack thereof) of sunlight rays.
• Option D: The thickness of the atmosphere that sunlight passes through is less at the equator (because the path is more direct) compared to higher latitudes. Less atmosphere means less scattering and absorption, so more sunlight reaches the surface, making equatorial regions hotter.

• If the Earth were flat:
• There would be no curvature - induced angle differences in sunlight incidence. Sunlight would strike all points from pole to pole at the same angle (assuming the sun is at a fixed position relative to the flat Earth). So, the temperature range from pole to pole would be much smaller.
• For a cube - shaped planet:
• Each face of the cube would have a distinct “equator - like” and “pole - like” region. The temperature differences within a face (due to angle of sunlight incidence) would be similar to a spherical Earth (if we consider a face as a 2D curved surface approximation). But between different faces (e.g., the top and side faces), there would be abrupt temperature changes. In contrast, on a spherical Earth, temperature changes are more gradual due to the smooth curvature.

• For a cube - shaped planet:
• If we assume the sun is shining on one face (let's say the front face). The rays would be most perpendicular (like at the equator) in the center of the front face. As we move towards the edges of the front face (towards the “poles” of that face), the angle of incidence would increase (similar to higher latitudes on Earth). For the adjacent faces (sides), the sunlight would strike at an oblique angle (similar to very high latitudes on Earth).

Answer:

A. The intensity of the sun’s energy received at the equator is greater than the intensity of the energy received at the poles.
B. Sunlight strikes at a greater angle at the equator, which spreads out the sunlight.
D. Sunlight passes through less atmosphere at the equator, so more sunlight gets through, which makes locations around the equator hotter.

19.