How are solstices and equinoxes similar? How are they different?
1 Answer
Both are periodic events with period of nearly half a year. Their relations to the lengths of noon shadows are different.
Explanation:
There are two equinoxes with spacing half a year, They occur as
vernal equinox by about March 21 and autumnal equinox by about
September 23. Likewise, solstices are also biannual events
occurring as summer solstice by about June 23 and winter solstice
by about December 21.
The angle of incidence of solar rays at an equinox instant is
the latitude. At the equator, latitude is 0 and the noon-shadow
length will be 0. This location on the equator is marked as an
equinox of the year. Elsewhere, the length of noon-shadow will be
minimum for the year and will be (height) X tan (latitude).
In contrast, the lengths of noon-shadows will attain max/mini
values
shadows, on an equinox day, will be (height) X 23.4^0.
