Unit 3: The changing intensity of solar energy: pg. 147 - 151 Flashcards
Is heat energy from the Sun evenly distributed across the Earth?
No.
What does the Earth’s tilted axis cause?
It causes different parts of the Earth to get more or less sunlight at different times of the year.
In what season does the Sun appear high in the sky and the Sun’s rays hit the Earth more directly?
Summer.
In what season does the Sun appear low in the sky and the Sun’s rays hit the Earth more obliquely?
Winter.
Where on the Earth is it always hot?
The Equator.
Why is it always hot at the equator?
The Sun’s rays hit the area around the Equator more directly, causing it to be always hot.
Where on the Earth is it always cold?
At the poles.
Why is it always cold at the poles?
The Sun’s rays hit the area at a more oblique angle, making it have to cover a bigger surface area, therefore it is always cold.
The Earth’s axis causes the seasons to occur. Would we still have seasons if there was no tilt?
No.
What would happen if the Earth’s axis was tilted more than it is now?
Summer would become hotter. Winter would become colder.
