Question

As seen from your current location, when will an upright flagpole cast no shadow because the sun is directly above the flagpole? every day at noon. only on the first day of summer. only on the first day of winter. on both the first days of spring and fall. never from your current location.

Answer 1

An upright flagpole will cast no shadow at noon only if it is located at 23° N latitude (the Tropic of Cancer) on about June 21, which is the summer solstice.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding when an upright flagpole will cast no shadow because the sun is directly overhead, this phenomenon happens only at specific latitudes and particular times of the year. On or about June 21, the date known as the summer solstice, the Sun shines most directly upon the Northern Hemisphere and passes through the zenith (the point in the sky directly above) at places on Earth that are at 23° N latitude. This latitude is known as the Tropic of Cancer. Therefore, an upright flagpole would cast no shadow at noon only if located precisely at 23° N latitude on the summer solstice.

Outside the Tropic of Cancer, the sun will never be directly overhead, and thus a flagpole will always cast a shadow at noon, albeit shorter when the sun is higher in the sky, such as during the local summer months.

Answer 2

The answer in this question is the last choice which is Never from your current location. ← you have to be between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn for the sun to EVER be directly overhead (that is why between the tropics is much warmer than other places on earth)