1. What is a Hours Of The Day Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the number of daylight hours based on latitude and solar declination angle.

Purpose: It helps astronomers, meteorologists, and outdoor planners determine daylight duration at specific locations and dates.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Hours} \) — Daylight duration (hours)
• \( \phi \) — Latitude (degrees)
• \( \delta \) — Solar declination angle (degrees)

Explanation: The formula calculates the time between sunrise and sunset based on the sun's position relative to Earth's latitude.

3. Importance of Daylight Hours Calculation

Details: Knowing daylight hours helps in agriculture, solar energy planning, construction scheduling, and outdoor activities.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude (-90° to 90°) and solar declination (-23.45° to 23.45°). The calculator will compute the daylight hours.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is solar declination angle?
A: It's the angle between the sun's rays and Earth's equatorial plane, varying between ±23.45° throughout the year.

Q2: How do I find my latitude?
A: Use GPS coordinates or online maps. Positive for northern hemisphere, negative for southern.

Q3: What's the maximum possible daylight hours?
A: At poles during summer solstice, it's 24 hours. At equator, it's always about 12 hours.

Q4: Why does the formula use arccos?
A: The arccos function calculates the hour angle when the sun is at the horizon.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's theoretically accurate but doesn't account for atmospheric refraction or local topography.