Question

1. why are the tropics located at the latitude they are?

Explanation:

The tropics (between the Tropic of Cancer, $23.5^\circ$ N, and Tropic of Capricorn, $23.5^\circ$ S) are located at these latitudes due to Earth's axial tilt (about $23.5^\circ$ from the plane of its orbit around the Sun). This tilt causes the Sun’s direct rays to oscillate between these latitudes over the year, defining the tropical zone’s boundaries. The tilt drives seasonal changes and determines where the Sun is directly overhead (solstices), creating the climate and geographic characteristics of the tropics.

Answer:

The tropics lie between latitudes $23.5^\circ$ N (Tropic of Cancer) and $23.5^\circ$ S (Tropic of Capricorn) because Earth’s axial tilt (≈$23.5^\circ$ from its orbital plane) causes the Sun’s direct rays to shift between these latitudes annually, defining the tropical zone’s boundaries. This tilt dictates where the Sun is overhead (solstices) and shapes tropical climate/geography.