Final answer:
The sun's rays are hottest when hitting the Earth at a direct angle, which is most pronounced during the summer months when the sun is higher in the sky. Solar collectors utilize this by tilting at an angle to capture the most sunlight. These concepts demonstrate the importance of the sun angle in heating the Earth's surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sun's rays are hottest when they hit the Earth at a more direct angle. During the summer months, the sun appears higher in the sky, and its rays strike the Earth's surface more steeply, leading to increased heating. This is due to the fact that when the sun's rays are more direct, they are concentrated over a smaller surface area as compared to when the angle is low, such as during winter, resulting in rays that spread out over a wider area and are thus less effective at heating the ground.
Solar collectors are often tilted at a 45-degree angle to maximize the efficiency of absorbing the sun's rays. Similarly, in the northern hemisphere during June, the sunlight is more direct, intensifying the heat. This principle also explains why southward-facing hillsides are preferred for activities like wine production, due to the increased sunlight for ripening grapes.