Which of these statements about Stonehenge is false?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Stonehenge is oriented to the summer-solstice sunrise, so the claim that the Sun rises over the Heel Stone on the day of the winter solstice (as seen from the Altar Stone) is incorrect.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Stonehenge’s main axis is aligned roughly northeast–southwest; the principal astronomical alignment is toward sunrise on the summer solstice.
- The Heel Stone sits outside the northeast entrance; the Altar Stone lies near the center of the monument.
- At latitude ~51°N, the summer-solstice sunrise azimuth is about 49° (northeast) and the winter-solstice sunrise azimuth is about 131° (southeast), roughly opposite directions.
- Archaeological studies propose lunar alignments (station stones) and long-distance transport of stones (bluestones from Wales, sarsens from nearby Marlborough Downs).

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- From the Altar Stone looking northeast toward the Heel Stone, observers see the rising Sun at summer solstice because the Heel Stone lies near the summer-solstice sunrise azimuth.
- The winter-solstice sunrise occurs on the opposite (southeastern) horizon, so it would not rise over the Heel Stone which is located to the northeast.
- Therefore the statement specifying winter solstice sunrise over the Heel Stone is factually wrong.

3) Intermediate numerical/geometric step
- Approximate azimuths at Stonehenge (latitude ~51°N): summer-solstice sunrise ≈ 49° (NE), winter-solstice sunrise ≈ 131° (SE). The Heel Stone aligns with the NE direction (~49°), confirming the summer, not winter, solstice alignment.

4) Why the correct answer (the false statement) is incorrect
- The Heel Stone marks the summer-solstice sunrise when viewed from the center/Altar Stone, not the winter solstice. Thus the statement claiming a winter-solstice sunrise alignment is false.

5) Why the other options are correct (briefly)
- Station stones: archaeological interpretations link them to lunar extreme rise/set positions (major lunar standstill) — supported by their geometry.
- Horseshoe of trilithons: opens to the northeast and points toward the rising sun on the summer solstice — consistent with the main alignment.
- Large sarsens and smaller bluestones: geological sourcing shows sarsens from nearby Marlborough Downs and bluestones from the Preseli Hills in Wales, indicating transport from a long distance.

Conclusion: The false statement is "The Sun rises over the Heel stone on the day of the winter solstice as seen from the Altar stone." This matches the provided answer.

Which of these statements about Stonehenge is false?单项选择题

类似问题

If you are walking along the Avenue towards the circular stone structure at Stonehenge, what might you see?

Which answer choice explains why furanoses and pyranoses can be reduced by sodium borohydride despite having no carbonyl functional groups.

Which of the following statements describes a glycoside?

Which of the following structures represents chitin?

In solution, glucose exists in

According to Xenophanes, what should be avoided at a symposium?

What is "kottabos"?

Why are there so many naked figures in vase iconography?

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单