Which circle lies at approximately 23.5 degrees South?

• A. Tropic of Cancer
• B. Tropic of Capricorn
• C. Arctic Circle
• D. Antarctic Circle

Answer: (B)

Latitude lines are measured north or south of the equator, and the tropical region is bounded by two lines around 23.5 degrees from the equator. The circle at 23.5 degrees south marks the southern boundary of the tropics, known as the Tropic of Capricorn. It represents the point where the sun can be directly overhead at noon during the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. The Arctic Circle (farther north) and the Antarctic Circle (farther south) sit near 66.5 degrees and define the polar regions, not the tropics. So the circle at approximately 23.5 degrees south is the Tropic of Capricorn.