Original Project
Weather and Climate II: Seasonal Differences
Item CL085002: The intensity of sunlight at a place on the surface of the earth changes over the course of a day because the height of the sun above the horizon at that place changes over the course of the day.
Which of the following statements best explains why the intensity of sunlight at a place on the surface of the earth changes over the course of a day?
- The distance sunlight travels to reach that place changes over the course of the day.
- The height of the sun above the horizon at that place changes over the course of the day.
- The amount of atmosphere sunlight travels through to reach that place changes over the course of the day.
- The only way the intensity of sunlight can change is if the sunlight is blocked by clouds before it reaches the surface of the earth.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 2370 |
6–8 n = 1277 |
9–12 n = 1089 |
Male n = 1096 |
Female n = 1204 |
English n = 2074 |
Other n = 192 |
||
| A. | The distance sunlight travels to reach that place changes over the course of the day. | 32% | 29% | 35% | 32% | 32% | 32% | 28% |
| B. | The height of the sun above the horizon at that place changes over the course of the day. | 34% | 31% | 37% | 35% | 33% | 35% | 27% |
| C. | The amount of atmosphere sunlight travels through to reach that place changes over the course of the day. | 20% | 22% | 17% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 29% |
| D. | The only way the intensity of sunlight can change is if the sunlight is blocked by clouds before it reaches the surface of the earth. | 14% | 17% | 11% | 13% | 15% | 14% | 16% |