Final answer:
The plate will get the hottest when it is angled to receive the sunlight as perpendicularly as possible, typically around a 45° angle, which maximizes sunlight exposure and heating efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plate will get the hottest when it is angled to receive sunlight as perpendicular to its surface as possible. This is because the concentration of sunlight is highest when the rays meet the surface at a right angle. In general, solar collectors, such as panels or plates for heating water or generating electricity, are typically tilted at an angle similar to the site's latitude and oriented toward the south in the Northern Hemisphere to maximize sunlight exposure. A common angle is around 45°, especially when the sun is considered to be 45 degrees above the horizon; this ensures maximum absorption of sunlight and hence, maximum heating efficiency. As French wine producers have discovered, this principle also applies to grape ripening, utilizing southward-facing hillsides to optimize sunlight exposure to the grapes for the best yield.