MMathematicsGeographyS2 to S5Astronomy · Energy

Sun path lab: day length, seasons and solar panels

In Kigali the day is about 12 hours long all year, but in Oslo it changes from 6 to 19 hours. Find out why, and how to point a solar panel.

▶ Start the lab 🧠 Questions 📄 My report

LevelS2 to S5 (and IGCSE)

TimeAbout 35 min

You useAngles, graphs, latitude

PriceFree: no account

🎯 Aim

To investigate how day length and the height of the noon sun change with latitude and season, and to choose the best tilt for solar panels.

You will learn to

Explain seasons with the tilt of the Earth’s axis.
Read and compare day-length graphs.
Calculate the noon height of the sun.
Choose the tilt and direction of a solar panel.

🧭 What to do

Choose Kigali and move the Day of the year: watch the day length.
Choose London and Oslo: compare the graphs with Kigali.
Read the height of the sun at noon in June and December.
Read the best tilt and direction for a solar panel in each place.
Answer the questions with the class data.
Write your conclusion and download your lab report.

🔬 Lab bench

📋 The data

Day length on the solstices in Kigali and London.

🧠 Investigate: answer from the data

Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.

📄 My lab report

Your report collects the aim, your data table, the graphs, your answers and your conclusion. It is made on your phone or computer: nothing is sent to anyone.

My conclusion

Check your conclusion

Because the Earth’s axis is tilted by 23.4°, places far from the equator have long summer days and short winter days, while near the equator (Kigali) the day stays close to 12 hours all year. The noon sun is overhead in Kigali twice a year, in March and September. A fixed solar panel should face the equator with a tilt close to the latitude; in Rwanda a small tilt of 10–15° is used so rain cleans it.

➕ Get more from this experiment

📝 Free

Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.

📦 Premium Lab Pack

1 000 RWF

Practical worksheet: track the sun and shadows at school
Day length and solar panel problems
Teacher guide and answer key
Exam-style questions with marking scheme

See the pack

👩‍🏫 For teachers

Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.

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