Final answer:
The altitude of the Sun at noon on December 21 as seen from the Tropic of Cancer is 44° above the horizon, calculated based on the 23° N latitude of the Tropic of Cancer and the 23° S declination of the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the altitude of the Sun at noon as seen from a specific location on Earth. On December 21, which is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun is at its southernmost point, 23° south of the celestial equator. The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23° north latitude. The altitude of the Sun at noon on this date, as seen from the Tropic of Cancer, would be directly related to the latitude of the observer and the declination of the Sun. Since the latitude of the observer (Tropic of Cancer) is 23° N, and the Sun's declination is 23° S, the altitude of the Sun will be the difference between 90° and the total of these angles. Therefore, the altitude is 90° - 23° - 23° = 44° above the horizon.