Simply, the area of Earth located in between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn is known as the tropics, or tropical zone. The Sun never appears directly overhead anywhere outside the tropics. It's during the summer solstice when the Sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Cancer. This picture of the Earth as a sphere shows how energy is dispersed across the globe from equator to the North and South Poles. The red and yellow colors show the warm zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, beyond this zone the color becomes blue, this shows how temperatures cool as the rays of the sun become less direct. When the lines were named 2000 years ago, the Sun was in the constellation of Capricorn during the winter solstice and Cancer during the summer solstice (hence the names). Now due to the movement of our axis (it wobbles), the equinoxes happen during a different season and the Sun is no longer in these constellations during these times, but the names remain. The word Tropic comes from the Greek word Tropos, meaning "turn"; referring to the fact that the sun appears to turn back at the solstices. (The days get shorter after June 21st and the days get longer after December 21st). The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are the two most important latitude lines made, apart from the equator. They match the orientation of the Earth’s rotational axis to the ecliptical plane around the sun. Someone, way back in the day, measured the sun at these invisible points that make up the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn and found that they mark the Earth's tilt: 23.5 degrees approximately and the Tropic of Cancer is the parallel latitude that lies 23 degrees and 26′ north of the Equator. This is the exact location where the Sun is overhead on June 21st known as the June solstice. The location has been shifting and will keep changing over the years by a few minutes. June 21st is the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern hemisphere. North of the Tropic of Cancer is the subtropics. South of the Tropic of Cancer are the Tropics. This area does not experience distinctly changing seasons because the sun is always high in the sky. See how this works? Hello? Are you there? I know if you stare at this Earth diagram for a few minutes you will find perfect sense in how the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn are so important to our understanding of the seasons... Ummmm, so right! Hang in there, the project is almost over....
23 Comments
Ally B.
10/10/2017 04:19:10 pm
Ha ha cracked me up the moment I saw them pictures. Nice job on the blog today Mrs.Taylor!!
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Ben
10/10/2017 04:53:48 pm
Have you seen the giant Farris wheel in England I have in a video
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caleb
10/10/2017 05:27:57 pm
come on 2 people
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Sadie
10/10/2017 06:18:05 pm
Good job on the blog Mrs. Taylor!!!
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kinna
10/10/2017 06:22:14 pm
nice job on the blog mrs Taylor I almost forgot to tell my parents about the tropical lines.
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kennedy
10/10/2017 06:33:01 pm
THE KID WITH ICE CREAM IS SO FUNNY I AM DIEING
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gandalf
10/10/2017 06:59:24 pm
i am happy the projects is almost over! nice pic Mrs. Taylor!!!!!!
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hunter and tobin
10/10/2017 07:15:43 pm
hey mrs taylor today me and Tobin are hanging out and we both decided that the Earth that isn't first is really confusing and the kid with ice cream is really funny
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jude
10/10/2017 07:27:49 pm
the blog was cool
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adler
10/10/2017 07:28:40 pm
ice cream kid is super funny
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ben
10/10/2017 07:29:25 pm
lamas
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adam
10/10/2017 07:30:31 pm
i like ice cream
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quinn
10/10/2017 07:31:40 pm
cool blog
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boone
10/10/2017 07:32:10 pm
cool
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nate
10/10/2017 07:32:52 pm
wfjksfrj
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Harmony
10/10/2017 08:26:24 pm
Good job on the blog Mrs. Taylor I loved all the funny Memes you put in it
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Joshua Rodriguez
10/10/2017 08:33:13 pm
perry the pltipusa
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tyler
10/10/2017 09:24:46 pm
I know I posted this late but I ain't have that time. I should do that ice cream thing myself, and thank you for calling me weird...
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tyler
10/10/2017 10:12:07 pm
Do you know how many days it takes for all the planets (and Pluto) to line up in a line? It is...
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Madeleine
10/10/2017 10:31:13 pm
Good job on the blog Mrs.taylor. I really like the memes you put in it.
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elephant
10/11/2017 07:13:11 am
wow, our poster is almost done! we only have topic f and finish coloring. cool!!!!!!!!! so who else is super excited for the new star wars movie? I am so excited.!! also, Mrs. Taylor I know why its called tropic of cancer, but seriously, WHY!!! tropic of cancer is just discouraging!!!!!! And Capricorn!! It makes me think of ether a unicorn or this bad guy in history called Capricorn!!!! well that's all for now, bye!!!!!!
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Addyson
10/11/2017 07:52:50 am
Mrs Taylor when I saw the one of the Tropical of Capricorn, the first thing that came to my mind was UNICORN 🦄 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
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panda
10/11/2017 08:20:40 am
ain't nobody got time for that :)
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |