Question

Where are the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn?

Answer 1

Tropic of cancer line is 23.5 degree north from equator

Explanation:

Tropic of Capricorn is 23.5 degrees south of equator.picture credit KURMA.com.

Answer 2

The Topics of Cancer is currently at `23.5^@N`and the Tropic of Capricorn is currently at `23.5^@S`.

Explanation:

The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are circles parallel to the Equator. The Equator has a latitude of `0^0` by definition. The latitude of the tropics is the same as the angle of the Earth's axial tilt which is currently `23.5^@`.

The significance of the tropics is due to the position of the Sun. At the Equinoxes the Sun is directly over the equator. At the June Solstice the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. At the December Solstice the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

Due to the fact that the Earth's axial tilt angle varies over a 40,000 year cycle, the positions of the Tropics vary between `22.1^@` and `24.5^@`.