Why does the sun move fast when it is close to the horizons?

Question

The sun moves fast when it rises from the horizon and also when it sets off. But during the mid noon day even for many hours it moves very less. (Please Note:: The rotation of the earth is constant always) Why does the sun move fast when its close to the horizons??

Answer 1

It'd not moving fast.. it looks like it is as you have a reference point to see the movement! Just like a high-altitude aircraft looks like it is flying slow while it could be doing 600 mph, while aplane taking off looks like it is moving fast though it is doing 200 mph!

Answer 2

The Earth's rotation causes the sun to "set." The closer to the equator you are, the closer to perpendicular the sun travels relative to the horizon, and the faster the sun will set relative to the horizon. If you stand on the Arctic Circle on June 21 (or Antarctic Circle on Dec 21) you will see that the sun doesn't set, it will very slowly come down to the horizon, then pass parallel to the horizon, and then rise again over a period of several hours. That is the reason that twilight is of a longer duration at northern regions than it is in equatorial regions. There is also an optical illusion, the same as the moon appears to be larger close to the horizon than it is when it is higher in the sky. You also need to consider the refractive properties of the atmosphere described by Petroclavus.

Answer 3

what i think everyone is trying to say is that the eqautor has much more surface space then 5-10 degrees above it. So lets say if you lived where i am(ohio) the sun would seem to stay in the sky longer because there isn't all that much surface space around whatever degree mark that goes through ohio. So basically the farther north you would go the more sun there would be the more south you go (until the equator) the less sun there would be with the exception of the daylight savings time period because there is less sunlight during both time and that would make the sunlight time about the same for both of us. If you need a picture to help explain anything i or someone has said let me know and i will send one to the e-mail address provided

Answer 4

The horizon give reference to the motion, and the light refracts at a high angle as well.

Light refracts in a pond or pool more intensly as you look farther and farther away, until the reflectivity of the water surface takes over. Same with the atmosphere. Refraction of sunlight as it enters the atmosphere from the vacuum of space changes the wavelength toward the reds and oranges, and also effects the apparent location of the sun.

Answer 5

This an illusion because the earth provides a frame of reference on the setting or rising sun - it continues to move at the same rate throughout the day - but with no reference.

Answer 6

the earth rotates at 1,000 mph so when its low it seems like it drops fast because you have a reference point like everyone else said

Answer 7

It doesn't change speed, the rotation of the earth is at a constant velocity. The perception that it speeds up is due to it's proximity to a sationary (seemingly so) object ie.. the earth.