What do Hawaii, Nigeria, and Peru have in common? Each of these locations, plus many others, get to see the subsolar point! But, what is it? A video from a comprehensive physics playlist puts the phenomenon at the forefront by explaining how the sun comes to be directly overhead, creating a shadowless landscape.

Concepts

shadows, the equator, latitude and longitude, the earth's axis, the earth's tilt, summer solstice, winter solstice, hawaii, the sun

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Check out the unique statue in Honolulu created for the sole purpose of observing the subsolar point
• Feature the video in a lesson about seasons and Earth's tilt
  

Classroom Considerations

• Individuals should be familiar with common geographical features such as the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• The video is impactful and features eerie images and interesting content
• Conveys scientific explanations concisely and in student-friendly terms
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2