In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:

(a) First half of the month of June

(b) Second half of the month of June

(d) Second half of the month of July

Explanation

The longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere occurs during the summer solstice. Analyzing the given options:

(a) First half of the month of June: The summer solstice does not usually occur in the first half of June.
(b) Second half of the month of June: The summer solstice typically falls in the second half of June, either on June 20, 21, or 22, depending on the year and time zone. This is when the northern hemisphere experiences the longest day and shortest night of the year, as the Earth’s tilted axis causes the Sun to reach its highest and northernmost points in the sky.
(c) First half of the month of July: The summer solstice does not occur in the first half of July.
(d) Second half of the month of July: The summer solstice does not occur in the second half of July.

Therefore, the correct answer is (b) Second half of the month of June.

Summer solstice: The summer solstice is an astronomical event that marks the longest day of the year and the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. It occurs when one of Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun, resulting in the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year for that hemisphere.
Winter solstice: The winter solstice is the opposite of the summer solstice, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. It occurs when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5° south of the equator.
Equinoxes: Equinoxes are the two times each year when the Sun crosses the equator’s path and is positioned exactly between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This results in nearly equal lengths of day and night all over the world. The spring (or vernal) equinox occurs around March 20 or 21, while the autumnal equinox occurs around September 22 or 23.