During the September Equinox, where do the vertical rays of the sun strike?

• A. North Pole
• B. South Pole
• C. Equator
• D. Tropic of Capricorn

Answer: (C)

During the September Equinox, the vertical rays of the sun strike the Equator. This equinox occurs around September 22 or 23 each year, marking the point where the sun crosses directly over the Equator. As a result, day and night are approximately equal in length across the globe.

At this time, the sun's rays hit the Equator at a 90-degree angle, leading to equal amounts of sunlight distributed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This phenomenon is a key seasonal marker, transitioning from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and from winter to spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

The other locations such as the North Pole, South Pole, and Tropic of Capricorn experience different sun angles and day lengths during this time, making the Equator the only place where the sun is directly overhead during the September Equinox.