On December 22nd, Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which of the following statements stands true?

Question

On December 22nd, Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which of the following statements stands true?

1. A. The sun never sets at Arctic Circle
2. B. The sun never sets at the Antarctic Circle (Correct answer)
3. C. The sun stands directly over the Tropic of Cancer
4. D. The Northern Hemisphere receives more insolation than the southern hemisphere.

Correct Answer

Option B — The sun never sets at the Antarctic Circle

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is The sun never sets at the Antarctic Circle.

Key Points

• On 22 December, the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth's axial tilt of 23.5° places the South Pole towards the Sun.
• The Sun's rays fall vertically over the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S), and the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer.
• At and within the Antarctic Circle (66.5° S) there is continuous daylight — the Sun never sets. This is the Midnight Sun of the southern summer.

Additional Information

• Why the other statements are wrong:
  • Option A — at the Arctic Circle on 22 December the Sun never rises; it experiences 24-hour darkness, the polar night. This is the exact reverse of the statement.
  • Option C — the Sun stands over the Tropic of Capricorn, not the Tropic of Cancer. It is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer on 21 June.
  • Option D — on 22 December the Southern Hemisphere receives more insolation, since it is tilted towards the Sun.
• The four key positions of the Earth in its orbit:

• At the equinoxes, day and night are of equal length across the whole world, since the Sun's rays fall vertically on the equator and the circle of illumination passes through both poles.
• Perihelion and aphelion should not be confused with the solstices: the Earth is closest to the Sun around 3 January and farthest around 4 July. Seasons are caused by axial tilt, not by this varying distance.