Question

Difference between the summer solstice and winter solstice.

Answer 1

Hint: Solstice is referred to an astronomical occasion brought about by the Earth's tilt on the axis and its journey in orbit around the sun. Some favour 'sunturn', a more Teutonic term to depict this astronomical occasion.

Complete Answer:

Summer Solstice	Winter Solstice
1. Summer solstice experiences the longest day and shortest night of the year.	1. Winter solstice experiences the shortest day and longest night of the year.
2. Every year on June 21st summer solstice happens.	2. Every year in the month of December winter solstice happens, dates may vary.
3. It happens when the earth’s tilt on the axis is at maximum towards the sun.	3. It happens when the North Pole of the earth is tilted far away from the sun.
4. The sun appears at its highest elevation during the noontime and stands still directly over the Tropic of Cancer, located at 23.5 degrees latitude North.	4. The sun stands still directly over the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere and reaches its southerly declination located at 23.5 degrees.

Note: The term solstice is taken from the Latin word 'solstitium' which means 'Sun standing still' at a certain position. The location of the sun at both the tropics, the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn portrays the occasion of summer and winter solstice.