1. Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky?
Northern Hemisphere
Earth rotates in a counterclockwise direction
makes sun appear to move east to west
Night – happens when earth rotates away from sun
Day – starts as earth completes its rotation

2. Tracking Shadows
Solar Noon – when the sun is at the highest point in the sky.
Before Solar Noon:
- sun is moving higher (greater angle of separation)
- shadow gets shorter
After Solar Noon:
- sun sinks lower (smaller angle of separation)
- shadow gets longer
Angle of Separation:
- the angle from the horizon to the sun’s height
horizon

3. Tracking Shadows
Changing Length of Shadows and Angle of Shadows Depend on:
- time of year
- geographic location
- time of day

4. Tracking Shadows As earth rotates:
- shadow will point in opposite direction
*sun in east, shadow points west in the morning
*sun in west, shadow points east in the evening
(afternoon)