Original Project
Weather and Climate II: Seasonal Differences
The earth’s spherical shape causes differences in the intensity of sunlight and thus the amount of energy from…
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
- 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.