Tropics and Polar Circles
The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are key lines of latitude that mark changes in sunlight and climate.
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The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are key lines of latitude that mark changes in sunlight and climate.
- Tropics are at 23.5 degrees
- Polar circles are at 66.5 degrees
- The tropics receive overhead Sun
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Tropics and Polar Circles?
Within Geography, which covers maps, landforms, weather, climate, population and settlements: understand how our planet and people connect, this topic explains Tropics and Polar Circles. Geography explains how places, people and natural processes connect, so each topic here combines a clear definition with a visual model.
Check that you can explain Tropics and Polar Circles in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Tropics and Polar Circles helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
Tropics and Polar Circles in detail
The Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S) mark the farthest points north and south where the Sun can be directly overhead at noon. The area between them is the tropics, which is hot all year round.
The Arctic Circle (66.5° N) and Antarctic Circle (66.5° S) mark the limits of the polar regions, where there is at least one day a year when the Sun does not set (midnight sun) and one when it does not rise. These lines exist because of the Earth's axial tilt of 23.5°, and they divide the world into tropical, temperate and polar zones.
How the interactive helps you understand Tropics and Polar Circles
Watch the globe in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the globe responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Tropics and Polar Circles.
Real-life uses and examples
- Interpret a graph or map that shows Tropics and Polar Circles and say what it suggests.
- Describe a real place where Tropics and Polar Circles can be seen, using a map or photograph.
- Explain how Tropics and Polar Circles affects people, jobs and land use in a region.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up cause, effect and consequence when you explain Tropics and Polar Circles.
- Writing general statements without a named place or example.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Tropics and Polar Circles
What is Tropics and Polar Circles?
The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are key lines of latitude that mark changes in sunlight and climate.
What are the most important points about Tropics and Polar Circles?
The main points are: Tropics are at 23.5 degrees; Polar circles are at 66.5 degrees; The tropics receive overhead Sun.
Why is Tropics and Polar Circles useful?
Understanding Tropics and Polar Circles helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
How can I practise Tropics and Polar Circles?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Tropics and Polar Circles?
Related topics in Geography include Grid References, Time Zones, Plate Boundaries.