Changes to day length at solstices vs. equinoxes

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In summary, the change in day length from day to day is greatest at the equinoxes and least at the solstices. This effect is greater at higher latitudes (N or S). I'm assuming it has to do with the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the incident sun rays, which is greatest at the solstices (when the sun "stands still"), but I'm too stoopid to work out the geometry to my satisfaction.
  • #1
AstroDoug
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Probably dumb question. I am trying to understand why the change in day length from day to day is greatest at the equinoxes and least at the solstices. This effect is greater at higher latitudes (N or S). I'm assuming it has to do with the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the incident sun rays, which is greatest at the solstices (when the sun "stands still"), but I'm too stoopid to work out the geometry to my satisfaction.

I know that the change in day length can be described by a sine wave curve, which demonstrates this effect, but I'm trying to understand why that is the case. For example, the contribution to the equation of time from the Earth's orbital speed variation can also be shown as a sine wave curve, but the explanation is given by Kepler's First and Second Laws, Newtonian dynamics, etc. You can go beyond just saying "it's a sine wave curve" and look at the underlying geometry/physics.

I've looked at a lot of animations explaining the mechanism of seasonal change in day length, but I haven't found anything that particularly focuses on this aspect (why the rate of change is greatest at the equinoxes and least at the solstices). Does anyone have a reference to a relatively simple explanation (trig OK, calc going to be a challenge), animation preferred if possible?
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF;
Just to be clear - "change in day length" from what?

Anyway, such effects are due to the combination of the Earth orientation at different times of the year and the rotation of the Earth. You should be able to see it by sketing out the positions at the specified times.
 
  • #3
AstroDoug, Welcome to Physics Forums!

I notice that you’ve asked this same question on a different forum. After the many unsatisfactory and incomplete responses I saw there it’s no wonder you’ve come here!

May I suggest that you re-phrase one part of your question? “Day length”, I am guessing, is not what you are asking about. I think you are asking about “the length of daylight” that changes during the year. If this is correct, then the below information may assist you to visualize the earth-sun geometry.

The length of the daylight changes during the year because of Earth's tilt.
As the Earth orbits the sun, its tilt causes the northern and southern hemispheres to alternate between greater and lesser exposure to the sun.
As a hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, the length of a day becomes shorter. As it is tilted toward the sun, day lengths become longer.
The rate of change of the length of the day is not constant but rather sinusoidal. The main reason for this effect is that the Earth's axis is tipped over about 23.5° from vertical. This produces that the fraction of the 24 hour day that a person in a given location of the Earth spends on the lit up portion of the Earth changes along the year.

Please visit these sites for details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solargraph_APEX.tif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_length
http://cycletourist.com/Miscellany/Length_of_day.html

If you do not get satisfaction from all this, then do return here and ask your specific question or doubt. Members here at Physics Forums are educated, experienced, and motivated to assist a true searcher trying to learn about our natural world.

Cheers,
Bobbywhy
 
  • #4
Simon Bridge said:
Welcome to PF;
Just to be clear - "change in day length" from what?

Anyway, such effects are due to the combination of the Earth orientation at different times of the year and the rotation of the Earth. You should be able to see it by sketing out the positions at the specified times.
Thanks for your reply. I was referring to the change in the length of daylight from day to day at the equinoxes (maximum change) and the solstices (minimal change). I think I need to improve my sketching tools/ability!
 
  • #5
A simple way to see it is to look at it as a math problem. In elementary calculus you learn that the derivative of a function = 0 at local min or max. The solstices are local min and max, so the rate of change (derivative) = 0.
 
  • #6


AstroDoug said:
Thanks for your reply. I was referring to the change in the length of daylight from day to day at the equinoxes (maximum change) and the solstices (minimal change).
In that case... what mathman said.
 
  • #7
Bobbywhy said:
AstroDoug, Welcome to Physics Forums!

I notice that you’ve asked this same question on a different forum. After the many unsatisfactory and incomplete responses I saw there it’s no wonder you’ve come here!

May I suggest that you re-phrase one part of your question? “Day length”, I am guessing, is not what you are asking about. I think you are asking about “the length of daylight” that changes during the year. If this is correct, then the below information may assist you to visualize the earth-sun geometry.

The length of the daylight changes during the year because of Earth's tilt.
As the Earth orbits the sun, its tilt causes the northern and southern hemispheres to alternate between greater and lesser exposure to the sun.
As a hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, the length of a day becomes shorter. As it is tilted toward the sun, day lengths become longer.
The rate of change of the length of the day is not constant but rather sinusoidal. The main reason for this effect is that the Earth's axis is tipped over about 23.5° from vertical. This produces that the fraction of the 24 hour day that a person in a given location of the Earth spends on the lit up portion of the Earth changes along the year.

Please visit these sites for details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solargraph_APEX.tif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_length
http://cycletourist.com/Miscellany/Length_of_day.html

If you do not get satisfaction from all this, then do return here and ask your specific question or doubt. Members here at Physics Forums are educated, experienced, and motivated to assist a true searcher trying to learn about our natural world.

Cheers,
Bobbywhy

Sorry for the delay in responding. Thanks for your input, I will delve into the resources you've provided. Also thanks for the reality check on the responses I got on AstronomyForum.
 
  • #8
mathman said:
A simple way to see it is to look at it as a math problem. In elementary calculus you learn that the derivative of a function = 0 at local min or max. The solstices are local min and max, so the rate of change (derivative) = 0.

Thanks for your reply. The problem I'm having is to understand the underlying physical phenomena that allow us to describe change in daylight with this kind of function. For example, the equation of time has a component that is due to the elliptical orbit of the earth, and that component can be plotted separately as a sine wave. The shape of the curve is explained by Kepler's Laws and ultimately by the theory of gravity. This is the kind of explanation (different laws/theories, I guess) I am trying to get to with the issue of the variation in change in daylight. Now, I admit to only a very dim recollection of college calculus, so if your response is, "Yeah, like I said in my original post," I'll take your word for it ... :smile:
 
  • #9
The daylight variation is the result of the Earth's axis change in orientation with respect to the sun, since it is fixed with respect to the stars.
 
  • #10
Sorry, I'm getting a little punchy. I'm referring to the rate of change in length of daylight, in other words, why the change in length of daylight from day to day is greater at the equinoxes and less at the solstices. I know that the change is described by a sine wave curve, and this is the nature of that curve, but I am trying to figure out what the underlying physics/geometry is to explain that.

This is what I was referring to in the comment on the contribution of the elliptical orbit to the equation of time. This can also be expressed as a sine wave, but there is an underlying physical reason (theory of gravity) to explain why the Earth speeds up in its orbit at perihelion and slows down at aphelion. I'm looking for a similar explanation to the different rate of change in the length of daylight during the year.
 
  • #11
I worked through this a few weeks back and this is how I did it (not saying it's the easiest way, but it seemed to give correct results):

It helped a lot to consider the Earth fixed in space at the origin and its rotational axis as fixed vertically, then relatively the sun will follow a circle tilted slightly from the horizontal plane making one revolution per year. For half the year the sun will be below the horizontal plane, the other half above.

You can then split the Earth exactly in half with a plane that is facing the sun, this tells you which half is in daylight and which is not. You can then also draw a circle of constant latitude around the Earth, the proportion of that circle that is in daylight will give you the length of your day. Using some maths you can figure out the intersection points of the plane facing the sun and the circle of constant latitude, with those you can calculate the amount of daylight. If there are no intersection points then you're in constant daylight or darkness.

Addition: You can then plot the curve of daylight against time of year and you'll see the sine-curve-like line (it's not exactly a sine curve though) - this is why the rate of change of daylight is not constant.
 
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  • #12
The sun runs "fast" and "slow" during large parts so the the year. See the attached analemma image. And there are times when the slow/fast sun delta times change quickly.

This in combination with your location on Earth's surface changes the times of sunrise and sunset. Add to that the political nature of time zone boundaries and it becomes confusing figuring out apparent - not actual - day length. We live by a political clock.

The actual duration of light is as others have described - from and astronomical point of view.
How we perceive in or day to day lives may be somewhat different.
 

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  • #13
sgb27 said:
I worked through this a few weeks back and this is how I did it (not saying it's the easiest way, but it seemed to give correct results):

It helped a lot to consider the Earth fixed in space at the origin and its rotational axis as fixed vertically, then relatively the sun will follow a circle tilted slightly from the horizontal plane making one revolution per year. For half the year the sun will be below the horizontal plane, the other half above.

You can then split the Earth exactly in half with a plane that is facing the sun, this tells you which half is in daylight and which is not. You can then also draw a circle of constant latitude around the Earth, the proportion of that circle that is in daylight will give you the length of your day. Using some maths you can figure out the intersection points of the plane facing the sun and the circle of constant latitude, with those you can calculate the amount of daylight. If there are no intersection points then you're in constant daylight or darkness.

Addition: You can then plot the curve of daylight against time of year and you'll see the sine-curve-like line (it's not exactly a sine curve though) - this is why the rate of change of daylight is not constant.

Thanks! This is more or less what I've been trying to do, so I may be on the right track, but I think my sketching powers/powers of visualization are failing me, not to mention maths. I am going to buy a compass and protractor, really set this up, and maybe the math will be clearer. I foresee that I will be the eccentric old guy in the nursing home with his pads and pencils, trying to explain this to the other denizens.
 

What causes changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes?

Changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes are caused by the Earth's tilt on its axis. During the summer and winter solstices, the Earth is tilted either towards or away from the sun, resulting in longer or shorter days. During the spring and fall equinoxes, the Earth's tilt is at a 90 degree angle, resulting in equal day and night lengths.

Why do we experience the longest and shortest days of the year at the solstices?

The solstices mark the points in the Earth's orbit around the sun where the tilt of the Earth's axis is either towards or away from the sun to its maximum extent. This results in the longest day during the summer solstice and the shortest day during the winter solstice.

How do changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes affect different parts of the world?

The changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes affect different parts of the world differently depending on their latitude. Places closer to the equator will experience minimal changes in day length, while places closer to the poles will experience more drastic changes in day length.

Do the changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes affect the Earth's climate?

Yes, changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes can affect the Earth's climate. Longer days during the summer solstice can result in warmer temperatures, while shorter days during the winter solstice can result in colder temperatures. These changes in day length also play a role in the changing of seasons.

How have changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes been observed and recorded throughout history?

Changes in day length at solstices and equinoxes have been observed and recorded through various methods, including ancient astronomical instruments, such as Stonehenge, and modern technology, such as satellites and telescopes. Historical records and scientific studies have also documented changes in day length over time.

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