Question

match the description with the picture below. assume all questions are referring to the northern hemisphere.
a) summer solstice:
b) vernal equinox:
c) shortest day of the year:
d) sun is the highest in the sky:

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Solstice/Equinox Details

In Northern Hemisphere:
- **Summer Solstice (a)**: North Pole tilted toward Sun, longest day, Sun highest.
- **Vernal Equinox (b)**: Equal day/night, Sun over equator (March).
- **Shortest day (c)**: Winter Solstice (North Pole tilted away), so c.
- **Sun highest (d)**: Summer Solstice (a), but wait—wait, d: "Sun is the highest" matches Summer Solstice (a). Wait, let's recheck:

Wait, the diagram:
- a: North Pole tilted toward Sun (Summer Solstice: longest day, Sun highest).
- b: Vernal Equinox (March, equal day/night, Sun over equator).
- c: North Pole tilted away (Winter Solstice: shortest day, Sun lowest).
- d: Autumnal Equinox (September, equal day/night, Sun over equator? Wait no—wait, the four positions: a (Summer), b (Vernal), c (Winter), d (Autumnal).

So:
a) Summer Solstice: matches a (North Pole toward Sun).
b) Vernal Equinox: matches b (Sun over equator, March).
c) Shortest day: Winter Solstice (c, North Pole away).
d) Sun highest: Summer Solstice (a), but wait—wait, d's description: "Sun is the highest" is Summer Solstice (a). Wait, but the options:

Wait the question is to match each description to the picture (a, b, c, d). Let's list each:

1. **a) Summer Solstice**: In Northern Hemisphere, Summer Solstice (June) has North Pole tilted toward Sun. So the Earth labeled "a" has North Pole toward Sun (dark/light: a's right side? Wait, the diagram: a's dark side is on the right? Wait, no—wait, the Earth's tilt: in a, the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun (so Northern Hemisphere has more daylight). So a is Summer Solstice.

2. **b) Vernal Equinox**: March, Sun over equator, equal day/night. The Earth labeled "b" has tilt neither toward nor away (equinox), so b.

3. **c) Shortest day of the year**: Winter Solstice (December), North Pole tilted away from Sun. So c (Earth labeled c has North Pole tilted away), so c.

4. **d) Sun is the highest in the sky**: Summer Solstice (a), because Sun’s altitude is highest then. Wait, but d’s Earth: d is Autumnal Equinox? Wait no—wait, the four positions: a (Summer), b (Vernal), c (Winter), d (Autumnal). Wait, maybe I mixed up. Wait, the orbit direction: from b (Vernal) to a (Summer) to d (Autumnal) to c (Winter)? No, orbit is counterclockwise (from above Sun). So order: b (Vernal, March) → a (Summer, June) → d (Autumnal, September) → c (Winter, December) → back to b.

So:
- a: Summer Solstice (June) → longest day, Sun highest.
- b: Vernal Equinox (March) → equal day/night.
- c: Winter Solstice (December) → shortest day, Sun lowest.
- d: Autumnal Equinox (September) → equal day/night.

Now match each description:

a) Summer Solstice: matches **a** (Earth a).
b) Vernal Equinox: matches **b** (Earth b).
c) Shortest day of the year: Winter Solstice, matches **c** (Earth c).
d) Sun is the highest in the sky: Summer Solstice (a), so matches **a**? Wait no—wait, d’s description: "Sun is the highest" is Summer Solstice (a). Wait, but maybe the user’s question is to put the letter (a, b, c, d) in each checkbox. Let's confirm:

- Summer Solstice (a): Earth a (North Pole toward Sun) → checkbox a) → a.
- Vernal Equinox (b): Earth b → checkbox b) → b.
- Shortest day (c): Earth c (North Pole away) → checkbox c) → c.
- Sun highest (d): Earth a (Summer Solstice) → checkbox d) → a? Wait no—wait, maybe I made a mistake. Wait, "Sun is the highest in the sky" is Summer Solstice (a), so d’s answer is a? But the checkboxes are next to each description:

Wait the image shows:

- a) Summer Solstice: [ ] → put a (the Earth labeled a).
- b) Vernal Equinox: [ ] → put b (Earth b).
- c) Shortest day of the year: [ ] → put c (Earth c).
- d) Sun is the highest in the sky: [ ] → put a (Earth a, Summer Solstice, Sun highest).

Step2: Match Each Description

- a) Summer Solstice: Earth **a** (North Pole tilted toward Sun).
- b) Vernal Equinox: Earth **b** (Sun over equator, equal day/night).
- c) Shortest day: Earth **c** (North Pole tilted away, Winter Solstice).
- d) Sun highest: Earth **a** (Summer Solstice, Sun’s altitude maximum).

Answer:

a) Summer Solstice: \boxed{a}
b) Vernal Equinox: \boxed{b}
c) Shortest day of the year: \boxed{c}
d) Sun is the highest in the sky: \boxed{a}

(Note: For the diagram, each checkbox next to the description is filled with the corresponding Earth label (a, b, c, d) as above.)