It is essential for students to know that:
The angle of the Sun’s rays due to the position of Earth in its orbit, the tilt of Earth’s axis, and the number of daylight hours causes the differences in the seasons.
The number of daylight hours changes throughout the year because as Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of its axis (23½ degrees) determines the amount of time that the Sun is shining on that portion of Earth. The tilt remains at the same angle and points at the same direction as Earth revolves around the Sun.
If the tilt of Earth is toward the Sun, there is a longer length of day, the season is summer. If it is neither tilted toward or away from the Sun, the length of day and night is equal, the season is fall and spring. If the tilt of Earth is away from the Sun, there is a shorter length of day, the season is winter.
Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted in the same direction as it moves around the Sun not because of any distance difference between the Sun and Earth.
The combination of direct rays from the Sun that strike Earth at higher angles (closer to 90 degrees) and more daylight hours causes the hemisphere of Earth tilted toward the Sun to have warmer temperatures.
The combination of indirect rays from the Sun that strike Earth at lower angles and less hours of daylight in the hemisphere of Earth angled away from the Sun have cooler temperatures.
The day when the tilt of Earth causes the length of day to be the longest or the shortest, a solstice occurs. This is the start of summer and winter.
The day when the tilt of Earth causes the length of day and night to be equal, an equinox occurs. This is the start of spring and autumn.
The angle of the Sun’s rays due to the position of Earth in its orbit, the tilt of Earth’s axis, and the number of daylight hours causes the differences in the seasons.
The number of daylight hours changes throughout the year because as Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of its axis (23½ degrees) determines the amount of time that the Sun is shining on that portion of Earth. The tilt remains at the same angle and points at the same direction as Earth revolves around the Sun.
If the tilt of Earth is toward the Sun, there is a longer length of day, the season is summer. If it is neither tilted toward or away from the Sun, the length of day and night is equal, the season is fall and spring. If the tilt of Earth is away from the Sun, there is a shorter length of day, the season is winter.
Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted in the same direction as it moves around the Sun not because of any distance difference between the Sun and Earth.
The combination of direct rays from the Sun that strike Earth at higher angles (closer to 90 degrees) and more daylight hours causes the hemisphere of Earth tilted toward the Sun to have warmer temperatures.
The combination of indirect rays from the Sun that strike Earth at lower angles and less hours of daylight in the hemisphere of Earth angled away from the Sun have cooler temperatures.
The day when the tilt of Earth causes the length of day to be the longest or the shortest, a solstice occurs. This is the start of summer and winter.
The day when the tilt of Earth causes the length of day and night to be equal, an equinox occurs. This is the start of spring and autumn.