Allison, Brylee & Sita

November 15, 2016

Sunshine Lab
Question
How does changing the angle at which the sun is shining change the area the light covers?
Materials
1 flashlight (with necessary batteries)
1 protractor
1 ruler/yard stick
1 desk/ table
1 ring-holder
Method/Procedure
1. Place ring-holder at the end of the desk/table
2. Attach flashlight to ring-holder so, when turned on, the light is facing down
3. Measure the height at which the flashlight is from the table & record findings
4. Turn on the flashlight, making sure it is perfectly perpendicular to the table/desk
5. Measure the ellipse of light as shown:
6. Calculate the area then record it in the given table
7. Move the flashlight so it is 10 degrees facing the longer end of the
table.
8. Repeat steps 5-7, moving the flashlight to the angles indicated by
the table.
9. Analyze the data.

Data
Angle

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Area
A=ab
(cm)

15.20

13.25

14.50

14.82

14.82

15.83

15.10

17.55

15.7

Height of flashlight: 11 in./ 27.5 cm

rounded to 3.14

Allison, Brylee & Sita

November 15, 2016
Errors/New Method
As the chart and graph show, this procedure gave us inconsistent data that did not
match our expectations. To make sure this was no fluke, we measured the angles again and
came up with the same results.
Knowing this is inaccurate, we set out to see what we could improve. First off, we noticed
the way we were measuring the angles was inconsistent. Not only did our hands shake, making
the measurements skewed, but we did not pin-point the spot on the flashlight of which we were
measuring. To fix this, we had one of the group members draw a thin, straight, line on a piece of
tape in the middle of the flashlight. This allowed us to out the protractor in the same exact spot
every time. After this, we switched the small, worn protractor for a newer, larger one. This new
protractor gave us more accurate gaps between the angles and was easier to read. Next,
without moving the protractor, one group member moved the flashlight to each angle in the
table and another member drew a light dot in the center of the flashlights light. That way, we
wouldnt have to realign the protractor each time we changed the angle, making the
measurements more consistent.
After making these changes, we redid the experiment and recollected the data. As the
chart and graph below show, it is much more in line with expectations and follows a clear
pattern.
Data:
Angle

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Area
A=ab
(cm)

13.85

13.84

13.82

14.76

14.32

16.10

16.11

18.93

29.20

Height of flashlight: 11 in./ 27.5 cm

rounded to 3.14

How this affects the climate

When the angle of the sun is higher (in perspective to the Earth) the area coverage is
also higher. However, the intensity of heat and light is less in this situation. When the angle of
the sun is lower, there is less coverage, but higher intensity of heat and light. This is why the

Allison, Brylee & Sita

November 15, 2016
North and South Hemispheres have different climates; the sun is farther away from the North
than the South, and at a different angle. Therefore, the North is much cooler, while the South is
much warmer. The equator, on the other hand, is always very warm because the sun is close
and constantly angled toward it. The North and South Poles are the opposite of this: the sun is
rarely angled toward them, as well as far away. Because of this, the two Poles receive very little
heat, making the climate very cold. The different climates of the Earth all depend on how close
the sun is, and the angle that it holds