M16 - 2

Question 1

How long does the Earth take to orbit the Sun once?

Answer 1

One year.

Question 2

Why are days longer in summer than in winter?

Answer 2

• In summer the days are longer because the parts of the earth that are tilted towards the sun have a longer path to travel when they are in the sun.

Question 3

• Label the direct and the oblique rays.
• Indicate where the sun’s rays fall on a large area and where they fall on a small area.
• What season is it in the southern hemisphere according to the diagram? Explain your answers with reference to the intensity of the sun’s rays.

Answer 3

• It is winter in the southern hemisphere because the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun and receiving the direct rays of the sun which are intense because the are focussed on a small area.
• The southern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and is receiving the oblique rays from the sun which are less intense because they have to spread over a larger area.

Question 4

Explain the following seasons with reference to the intensity of the sun’s solar energy:

• Summer in the southern hemisphere and winter in the northern hemisphere.

Answer 4

• When it is summer in the southern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere is tilted closest towards the sun.
• The southern hemisphere will receive the most intense solar energy because it will receive the direct rays of the sun.
• The solar energy will be focussed over a small area so it will be very intense.
• The northern hemisphere will be tilted away from the sun.
• It will receive less intense solar energy which means it will be winter in the northern hemisphere.
• The N.H. will only receive the sun’s oblique rays.
• The oblique rays have to spread over a large area and so the solar energy will be less intense.

Question 5

Explain the following seasons with reference to the intensity of the sun’s solar energy:

• Autumn in the southern hemisphere and spring in the northern hemisphere.

Answer 5

• When it is autumn in the southern hemisphere, the sun’s rays will land on the 2 hemispheres equally and neither hemisphere will be tilted towards the sun.
• This means that it will be spring in the northern hemisphere.

Question 6

Explain the following seasons with reference to the intensity of the sun’s solar energy:

• Winter in the southern hemisphere and summer in the northern hemisphere.

Answer 6

• When it is winter in the S.H., the tilt of the earth’s axis will mean that the N.H. is tilted closest towards the sun.
• The N.H. will receive the most intense solar energy because it will receive the direct rays of the sun.
• The solar energy will be focuses over a small area, so it will be very intense.
• The S.H. will be tilted away from the sun and will receive less intense solar energy.
• The S.H. will only receive the sun’s oblique rays that have to spread over a large area and the solar energy is then less intense.