Seasons

Front

What is a season?

Back

A season is a division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology, and daylight hours, typically categorized into four parts: spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What causes seasons on Earth?

Back

Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun, leading to varying angles of sunlight at different times of the year.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is the Tropic of Cancer?

Back

The Tropic of Cancer is the latitude 23.5° North of the Equator, where the sun is directly overhead during the June solstice.

Front

What is the Tropic of Capricorn?

Back

The Tropic of Capricorn is the latitude 23.5° South of the Equator, where the sun is directly overhead during the December solstice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What happens during a solstice?

Back

During a solstice, the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest or shortest day of the year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is an equinox?

Back

An equinox is a time of year when day and night are approximately equal in length, occurring in March and September.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

When does summer begin in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back

Summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere on June 21st, the date of the summer solstice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

When does winter begin in the Northern Hemisphere?

Back

Winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere on December 21st, the date of the winter solstice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun?

Back

It takes the Earth approximately 365 days to complete one orbit around the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Front

What is the significance of the North Pole during winter?

Back

During winter, the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in continuous darkness for several months.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1