How to build and use a simple sundial
  • 1. What is the gnomon on a sundial?
A) The hour markings
B) The base of the sundial
C) The decorative element
D) The part that casts the shadow
  • 2. What is needed to accurately calibrate a sundial?
A) The day of the week
B) True North
C) The current temperature
D) Magnetic North
  • 3. What is the 'style' of a sundial?
A) The color of the hour markings
B) The gnomon's edge that casts the shadow
C) The material of the sundial
D) The overall design
  • 4. What is the equinox?
A) The longest day of the year
B) When the moon is full
C) The shortest day of the year
D) When day and night are equal
  • 5. What is the declination of the Sun?
A) The speed of the Sun.
B) The brightness of the Sun.
C) The distance from the Earth to the Sun.
D) The angle between the sun and the Earth's equator.
  • 6. What kind of sundial is easiest to build?
A) Horizontal
B) Equatorial
C) Vertical
D) Analemmatic
  • 7. What material is NOT suitable for a sundial's gnomon?
A) Plastic
B) Cardboard
C) Wood
D) Metal
  • 8. What is the purpose of the hour lines on a sundial?
A) To decorate the sundial
B) To measure the angle of the sun
C) To support the gnomon
D) To mark the hours of the day
  • 9. How does latitude affect the sundial design?
A) Has no effect
B) Determines the color of the sundial
C) Determines the size of the sundial
D) Determines the angle of the gnomon
  • 10. What causes daylight saving time?
A) The sun burning brighter.
B) The Earth moving closer to the sun.
C) Changing clocks forward in summer.
D) The Earth stopping its rotation
  • 11. What is the difference between 'apparent solar time' and clock time?
A) The size of the sundial
B) Clock batteries
C) The sundial's color
D) Equation of Time variations
  • 12. What direction should a horizontal sundial face in the Northern Hemisphere?
A) North
B) East
C) West
D) South
  • 13. What is the equation of time?
A) A formula for calculating sunrise
B) A formula for calculating the length of a day
C) A formula for calculating latitude
D) The difference between mean solar time and apparent solar time
  • 14. Why does a sundial's accuracy change throughout the year?
A) The wind blows it off course
B) The sundial's material expands
C) Earth's elliptical orbit
D) The sun changes color
  • 15. What tool can be used to find True North?
A) Smartphone GPS
B) Barometer
C) Thermometer
D) Compass with declination adjustment
  • 16. What is the best time of day to calibrate a sundial?
A) Midnight
B) Sunrise
C) Solar noon
D) Sunset
  • 17. What happens if a sundial is not level?
A) The gnomon will fall off
B) Nothing
C) The time reading will be inaccurate
D) The sundial will break
  • 18. What type of angle determines the length of the gnomon?
A) Latitude
B) Declination
C) Longitude
D) Azimuth
  • 19. How does East/West Longitude affect a sundial's readings?
A) It determines the standard time offset
B) It changes the material needed
C) It has no effect
D) It changes the height of the gnomon
  • 20. What is a diptych sundial?
A) A sundial made of two materials
B) A sundial with two gnomons
C) A sundial for telling time in two locations
D) A folding sundial
  • 21. Which type of sundial is dependent on the observer's position?
A) Equatorial
B) Analemmatic
C) Horizontal
D) Vertical
  • 22. How often does the Equation of Time return to 0?
A) Once a year
B) Never
C) Every day
D) Four times a year
  • 23. What's the best way to protect a sundial made of wood from the elements?
A) Bury it during winter
B) Leave it out to dry
C) Apply a sealant
D) Wash it with soap
  • 24. If a sundial reads 12:00 (Solar Noon), but your clock says 12:30, what is likely the reason?
A) You are west of your time zone's central meridian.
B) The sundial is broken.
C) It is daylight saving time
D) You are east of your time zone's central meridian.
  • 25. On a vertical south-facing sundial, where is noon located?
A) Horizontal line.
B) Bottom of the dial.
C) Top right corner.
D) Vertical line pointing straight up.
  • 26. What effect does the earth's tilt have on sundials?
A) It makes sundials only work in summer.
B) It requires the gnomon to be angled to the latitude.
C) It has no effect.
D) It requires the use of color coding.
  • 27. What does the word 'gnomon' mean?
A) Indicator
B) Time
C) Shadow
D) Sun
  • 28. What is the purpose of a sundial's base?
A) To make the sundial look nice
B) To protect the gnomon
C) To enhance the sundial's accuracy
D) To provide a level surface and stability
  • 29. If a sundial tells the same time for all hours of the day, the sundial is...
A) Located on the Equator.
B) Broken or incorrectly calibrated.
C) Perfectly accurate.
D) Located at the North Pole.
  • 30. In the Southern Hemisphere, which direction should a horizontal sundial face?
A) North
B) West
C) East
D) South
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