Are tree shadows always on the north side?

Answer 1

Hey Tim,

NO. A tree shadow is opposite the location of the sun (or moon if it is a moon shadow).

Moss however grows on the North side of a tree trunk, because there is less direct sunlight there.

Answer 2

No -- that's a myth. Look at it this way: is a building's shadow always on the north side? No -- so why would it be any different for a tree?

And BTW, why is this in the philosophy category? If a tree grows moss in a forest and there's no one around to see it, does it still look green?...

Answer 3

Imagine a line on the ground that goes from due East to due west through a vertical stick or tree.

If you are north of the tropic of Cancer, you will never see that object's shadow south of that line. If you are south of the tropic of Capricorn, you will never the shadow North of that line. If you are within the tropic lines, it depends on the season.

So the correct concept is that, in the US, only a nearby object further north than the sun-blocking object can ever receive shade from it, and an object sitting further south than the sun-blocking object will never receive shade from it.

If you have a wall in the U.S. that faces due North, the direct sunlight will never hit it. Some types of moss do not grow well in sunlight, and grow only in shady areas. So in moss-prone areas that do not have extremely dense foliage (that provide protective shade on the southern side), shade-loving moss tends to be mostly on the shady North side of the trees and tall rocks. This is also why snow on the north slopes of tall mountains tends to last longer.

Answer 4

No. Whether or not a shadow points N or S at noon depends on latitude and time of year. North of the Tropic of Cancer noon shadows always point north. South of the Tropic of Capricorn noon shadows always point south. In between, depends. And of course at sunrise shadows point more or less west and at sunset shadows point more or less east.

Answer 5

Yes, if the sun always on the south side of the tree

Answer 6

Not necessarily. A walk in the woods would dispel that legend. They do tend to grow Thickest on the north side in the Northern Hemisphere.

Answer 7

Go outside and look and you'll see that the shadow moves in conjunction with the sunlight.

Answer 8

No. It depends on the time of year and where on earth the tree is.

Answer 9

Think of a sun dial.

Answer 10

Try watching.