What is the vertical ray of sunlight during the summer solstice?

During the summer solstice, which occurs around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, the vertical ray of sunlight strikes the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 degrees North latitude. This event marks the point where the Sun is directly overhead at noon, leading to the longest day of the year for locations north of the equator.

At this time, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the Northern Hemisphere to receive the most direct sunlight, resulting in increased day length and warmer temperatures. As the Earth orbits around the Sun, the orientation of its axis remains consistent, which means that the location of direct sunlight changes throughout the year, with the Tropic of Cancer being the farthest point north that receives direct sunlight at noon during the summer solstice.

The other options do not correspond to the summer solstice. For example, the Tropic of Capricorn is oriented in the Southern Hemisphere, while the North Pole would experience 24 hours of daylight but is not the point where sunlight is directly overhead. The equator, receiving more uniform sunlight year-round, also does not represent the specific point for the vertical ray on this particular day.