Question

16 a student models the motions of the sun and earth to understand why the sun appears to move across the sky from sunrise to sunset. in this model, the student represents earth and a light represents the sun. which model demonstrates the appearance of the sun moving across the sky? a the student holding the light at arm’s length and turning in a circle b the student walking around in a wide circle while the light sits on a desk c the student spinning around in place while the light sits on a desk nearby d the student standing still and the light being moved over the student’s head

Explanation:

The sun appears to move across the sky from sunrise to sunset due to the Earth's rotation on its axis. To model this, the student (representing Earth) should rotate while the light (representing the Sun) remains relatively stationary. Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: The student holding the light and turning in a circle would model the Sun moving, not Earth's rotation causing the Sun's apparent motion.
• Option B: The student walking around the light in a wide circle models Earth's revolution around the Sun (which causes seasons, not the daily apparent motion of the Sun across the sky).
• Option C: The student spinning in place while the light sits nearby correctly models Earth's rotation on its axis. As the student (Earth) spins, the light (Sun) appears to move across their "sky" (the area they can see), simulating the daily sunrise - sunset apparent motion of the Sun.
• Option D: The student standing and the light being moved over the student's head models the Sun moving, not the Earth's rotation causing the Sun's apparent motion.

Answer:

C. the student spinning around in place while the light sits on a desk nearby