Question map
In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the :
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2.
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs during the Summer Solstice. This astronomical event happens when the North Pole is tilted at its maximum toward the Sun, and the Sun's rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N latitude).
While the exact timing can vary slightly due to the leap year cycle, the Summer Solstice typically falls on June 20, 21, or 22. These dates consistently fall within the second half of the month of June. On this day, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the maximum duration of sunlight and the shortest night.
- Option 1 is incorrect as the solstice never occurs before June 15th.
- Options 3 and 4 are incorrect because, by July, the Earth has moved further in its orbit, and the subsolar point begins shifting back toward the Equator, resulting in shorter days compared to the June solstice.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a 'Sitter'—a non-negotiable question found in Class VI NCERT. If you get this wrong, you lose the 'easy marks' buffer that protects you from negative marking in tougher questions. The strategy is simple: Respect the basics of Physical Geography and don't ignore the 'easy' chapters.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Does the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere normally occur in the first half of June (June 1–15)?
- Statement 2: Does the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere normally occur in the second half of June (June 16–30)?
- Statement 3: Does the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere normally occur in the first half of July (July 1–15)?
- Statement 4: Does the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere normally occur in the second half of July (July 16–31)?
- Explicitly states the summer solstice (the longest day) falls on June 20, 21 or 22.
- Dates given (20–22 June) are in the second half of June, not June 1–15.
- Identifies the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.
- Gives a concrete example date: 21 June, which is after June 15.
- Provides specific solstice dates in late June (example entries show June 20 for 2028 and 2029).
- Reinforces that the solstice commonly occurs around June 20–22, i.e., not in the first half of June.
States explicitly that in the Northern Hemisphere the longest day occurs around 21 June (summer solstice).
A student can compare 'around 21 June' with the first-half window (1–15 June) and note the dates do not overlap, suggesting the statement is unlikely.
Says the longest day and shortest night across the northern hemisphere occur on the 21st of June (summer solstice).
Combine this precise date with calendar knowledge to judge whether 21 June falls in the first half (it does not).
Presents an exam question asking whether the longest day in the northern hemisphere is in the first half or second half of June (implying the month-of-June timing is contested between halves).
Use the other snippets that give the solstice date to resolve which half (first vs second) of June is correct.
Notes mid-summer conditions at about 21 June (Arctic has 24-hour daylight at mid-summer/21 June), linking longest-day phenomena to late June.
A student can map 'mid-summer / 21 June' onto the calendar to see it lies after June 15, contradicting the first-half claim.
Uses 21st June to illustrate the summer solstice for the northern hemisphere in a diagram/exercise, reinforcing that the key date is around June 21.
Compare the solstice date used here (21 June) with the 1–15 June range to assess the statement's plausibility.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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