04 seasons

Question 1

The Earth spins on a tilted axis of…
Therefore, sunlight intensity is…

Answer 1

23.5 degrees
uneven on Earth

Question 2

When sunlight is more intense on the southern hemisphere,

Answer 2

there is winter in the northern hemisphere.

Question 3

When it is less intense in the south

Answer 3

there is summer in the north.

Question 4

Two days a year, the light is equal on both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

These days are referred to as

Answer 4

equinox (light and dark hours are equal, around Mar 20 and Sept 22).

Question 5

There are also two days in the year which have the most sunlight and least sunlight. These are called the

Answer 5

These are called the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice (around June 21 and Dec 21)

Question 6

Each planet’s orbit about the Sun is an
Therefore a planets distance from the sun is

Answer 6

ellipse (oval)
constantly changing as the planet goes around its orbit.

Question 7

Disprove:
Many people believe that the elliptical orbit of Earth is the reason for the seasons.

Meaning the Earth is closest to the sun in summer and farther away in winter.

Answer 7

This neglects the fact that at any given time, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons.

Earth’s orbit is actually nearly circular, and so variations in distance from the Sun have very little effect compared to the effects of changes in the angle of incoming sunlight.

Question 8

Disprove:

Many people believe that whichever hemisphere that is tilted towards the Sun experiences summer because it is closer to the Sun.

Answer 8

Actually, Earth is so small compared to the Sun, and so far away from it, that the difference in distance between the two hemispheres and the Sun is inconsequential.

However, the tilt of Earth’s axis does affect the angle at which the Sun’s rays strike Earth—called the angle of incidence—this is what causes the seasons.