Why is the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn 23.5 degrees North and South of the Equator?

Answer 1

Because the Earth's axis is tilted to the ecliptic (the plane of the sun) by that amount.
As the Earth orbits the sun, the direction and angle of the Earth's tilt doesn't change. So as it moves around the sun, the sun appears to shift up and down the sky with the seasons.
The tropics are the farthest points north and south of the equator where the sun is directly overhead at noon.

For example, at the summer solstice, the sun is directly overhead over the Tropic of Cancer at noon. Before and after that date the sun isn't quite overhead because the sun appears to move north and south throughout the year.

If the Earth was tilted at only 18 degrees, the Tropics would be at 18 degrees north and south.

Answer 2

These lines mark the boundries of the Suns position relative to the Earth's surface. During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is 23.5 degrees North of the Equator and in the winter it is 23.5 degrees south .

Answer 3

The tropics are defined as the highest and lowest latitudes at which the sun can be directly overhead at noon on any day of the year. This in turn is limited by the tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the sun.

For much more information with pictures and diagrams, try an internet search on "plane of the ecliptic."

Answer 4

Because the Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.5 degrees to the plane of its orbit.

Answer 5

Let me offer you a tip, rather of waiting for an answer on yahoo answers, you must alternatively type that question in google search. Takes less than 5seconds to seek out the reply.

Answer 6

enable me supply you a tip, rather of waiting for an answer on yahoo solutions, you will desire to rather form that query in google seek. takes decrease than 5seconds to locate the respond.