Answer to Question #137717 in General Chemistry for Mbali Sthole

Question

During each solstice and equinox, are the rays of the sun hitting the Northern Hemisphere directly, indirectly, or the same as in the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer 1

During the day the rays of the sun give direct light, even though that light is sometimes diffused through cloud. Only a total eclipse comes close to blocking ‘direct’ sunlight over a small area.

During the night there is indirect sunlight for some time after sunset and before sunrise.

There will also be indirect sunlight being reflected from the moon, both during the day and/or the night depending on the moon’s phase.

In polar regions during the winter there is a period where the sun does not rise, and during the summer there is a period where the sun does not set - and in near polar regions there is a period of time where the sun sets but it remains twilight throughout the night.