(will) wrote in
m:

Hi Folks

I'm hopeing that somebody here can settle an argument for me and a
mate.

The days get longer and shorter during the year ,because of the earth
tilt to its axis...

Is the time gained or lost each day constant.. I reckon its got to be
something between 30 and 55 secondes of extra daylight (or darkness)
each day and that whatever the figure is it will always stay the
same... but my mate reckons that this figure increases as the longest
day approaches so for example its an extra minute of daylighht in
March but by June were getting twio extra minutes...

Any chance some body could settle this argument

cheers

Will


The answer is not that simple.

The rate of change in length of the day is greatest at the March and
September equinoxes. The rate decreases to near zero at June and December
solstices.

The magnitude of the rate of change also deprends on your latitude. It is
minimum at the eqautor, increases in the temperate zones and becomes
extreme at the polar regions.

For example:

At 45° latitude
---------------
At March equinox (21 March)
the rate of change in length of day is 1m00s

At June solstice (21 June)
the rate of change in length of day is almost 0m02s


And near the polar regions.

At 60° latitude
---------------
At March equinox (21 March)
the rate of change in length of day is almost 2m59s

At June solstices (21June)
the rate of change in length of day is almost 0m10s

Martin Lewicki