Yes, your calculations are correct.

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a homework problem involving calculations related to solar noon and hour angle for a specific location in Córdoba, Argentina. Participants are exploring the implications of time zone adjustments, the equation of time, and the conventions for calculating hour angles in the context of solar movement.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a solution for determining standard time at solar noon and the hour angle at 8 AM, using the equation of time and Earth's rotation rate.
  • Another participant acknowledges the method but points out an arithmetic error in the first part of the solution and raises a question about the sign convention for hour angle in the Southern hemisphere.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about the sign convention and suggests a different calculation for the first part, questioning if it should yield a time later than noon.
  • Further replies challenge the understanding of the time calculated and whether it aligns with the concept of being "an hour and a bit before noon."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the calculations, and there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the sign convention for hour angles and its implications for the calculations presented.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the sign convention for hour angles and how it affects the calculations, as well as potential arithmetic errors that have not been definitively clarified.

TyErd
Messages
297
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Given:

Consider the following: city: Córdoba, Argentina
Longitude = 64 deg 10 min W
Latitude = 31 deg 28 min S
Time zone = GMT -3
Date = 01 August
On this date, the equation of time = -6 minutes. Assume no daylight saving time

(a) Determine the standard time at solar noon.
(b) Determine the hour angle at 8 AM standard time.

Homework Equations


earth rotates 15degrees per hour

The Attempt at a Solution


15(3) = 45
64.1667 - 45 = 19.1667degrees.
if Earth rotates at 15Degrees per hour then that means for 19.1667degrees it needs to rotate about 1hour 17minutes.

thus standard time at solar noon is 12.00 - 1hour and 17 minutes + 6minutes
= 11.49am

is that right so far?using above answer, for part b i did the following:

from 8am to 11.49am there is 3hours 49 min difference.

(3 + 49/60) * 15 = 57.25degrees.

is that right?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
In your attempt at a solution in the first part, your method is fine, but there is a very simple arithmetic slip in your working.

Your calculation for the second part seems fairly right, except that the mistake in the first part has carried through. Do you know the sign convention for hour angle? Remember that the sun travels anti-clockwise around the sky in the Southern hemisphere. Does that make a difference? Or does the fact that it still travels from East to West make a calculation the same as in the Northern hemisphere? You do need to think carefully about that aspect before you hand your work in.
 
No I'm not familiar with the sign convention.

for the first part should it be 12.00 + 1hour and 17 minutes + 6minutes= 1.23pm??
 
check the sign convention by google hour angle

for the first part no, that is not the slip -- you have said that standard time is an hour and a bit before noon -- does that match the time you have arrived at?
 
Im not sure what you mean by what time I arrived at.
 
is 11.49 an hour and a bit before noon?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
9K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
10K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
29K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
934