In the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice falls on

Analyze the question: It asks for the date of the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.

Concept: The solstices happen when the Sun's overhead position reaches its farthest point north or south of the Equator.

• 21st June (about 21-23 June): The Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer (23½°N). This is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
• 22nd December (about 21-22 December): The Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn (23½°S). This is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
• 21st March and 23rd September: These are the equinoxes, when the Sun is overhead at the Equator and day and night are equal everywhere.

Solution:

1. Summer in the Southern Hemisphere means the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.
2. This happens when the Sun is directly overhead at 23½°S, the Tropic of Capricorn.
3. That occurs around 21-22 December.
4. Checking the options: • A (21st March) is an equinox, so it is wrong. • B (22nd December) is the Southern Hemisphere summer solstice, so it is correct. • C (23rd September) is an equinox, so it is wrong. • D (23rd June) is the Southern Hemisphere winter solstice, so it is wrong.

Exam tip: Remember "the summer solstice belongs to the hemisphere the Sun is overhead in." December means Sun at the Tropic of Capricorn, so summer in the south. June means Sun at the Tropic of Cancer, so summer in the north. Also, the equinoxes (March and September) are never solstices.