Item CL081001:
Which of the following statements best explains why sunlight would reach two places on Earth at different angles?
- Because sunlight does not travel from the Sun to the Earth in straight lines, sunlight hits different places at different angles.
- Because sunlight does not travel from the Sun in parallel lines, sunlight hits different places at different angles.
- Because the Earth is spherical, sunlight hits different places at different angles.
- Because the Earth’s axis is tilted sunlight hits different places at different angles.
- Distribution of Responses
![Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item CL081001](http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=265x180&cht=bvg&chf=bg,s,00000000&chco=76A4FB|76A4FB|339933|76A4FB&chds=0,100&chd=t:21,22,28,29&chxl=0:|A|B|C|D&chxt=x,y&chbh=a&chbw=a&chm=N*f0*%,000000,0,-1,11,,e::5&filename=CL081001-dist.png)
- Students Responding Correctly
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 307 | 1098 | 28% |
Grades | |||
6–8 | 169 | 633 | 27% |
9–12 | 138 | 461 | 30% |
Gender | |||
Male | 148 | 495 | 30% |
Female | 155 | 575 | 27% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 261 | 961 | 27% |
Other | 32 | 93 | 34% |
- Notes
- NGSS does not address the idea that the reason sunlight strikes different places on Earth at different angles is because the Earth is spherical.