Log In | Register

Item WC039002: The angle at which sunlight hits any given place on the earth's surface changes continuously throughout the day.

After the sun rises above the horizon, what happens to the angle at which sunlight hits any given place on the earth’s surface?

  1. The angle changes continuously throughout the morning and evening, but does not change during the middle of the day.
  2. The angle changes continuously throughout the day from morning to evening.
  3. The angle changes rapidly during the morning, changes slowly during the middle of the day, and changes rapidly during the evening.
  4. The angle does not change at all during the day from morning to evening.
Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 4267
6–8
n = 2463
9–12
n = 1797
Male
n = 2066
Female
n = 2099
English
n = 3730
Other
n = 388
A. The angle changes continuously throughout the morning and evening, but does not change during the middle of the day. 17% 19% 16% 20% 15% 17% 19%
B. The angle changes continuously throughout the day from morning to evening. 52% 50% 54% 50% 53% 52% 45%
C. The angle changes rapidly during the morning, changes slowly during the middle of the day, and changes rapidly during the evening. 22% 22% 22% 21% 23% 22% 23%
D. The angle does not change at all during the day from morning to evening. 9% 9% 8% 9% 8% 8% 13%