Seasons - Earth's Rotation and Revolution

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Seasons

Earth’s Seasons are caused by tilt,

and not by distance.

What are the causes of the seasons?

• The four divisions of the year (spring, summer, fall and winter) are marked by weather patterns and hours of daylight in a particular region.

• These patterns are a result of Earth’s 23.5° tilt of axis and its changing position as it orbits the Sun.

Earth's Axis is Tilted

• Earth spins around its axis once every 24 hours

• The axis is an imaginary line on which Earth rotates.

• This imaginary line intersects the surface of Earth at the North Pole and South Pole.

Earth's Axis is Tilted

• As Earth orbits around the Sun, it spins on its axis, which is tilted 23.5° relative to the plane of its orbit.

• Earth’s tilt of the axis points in the same direction in space but changes its position relative to the Sun depending on where it is located during its path of orbit.

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What does this have to do with seasons?

• During the month of June, the Northern Hemisphere and North Pole point toward the Sun.

• This causes temperature increases and changes in the atmosphere in the Northern Hemisphere that indicate the season of summer.

What does this have to do with seasons?

• During the month of December, the Southern hemisphere and South Pole point toward the Sun.

• This causes temperature increases and changes in the atmosphere in the Southern Hemisphere that indicate the season of summer.

Multiple Choice

The Earth's axis is tilted _____ degrees.

• 23.5

• 25.3

• 30.2

• 24

Multiple Choice

Day & night are caused by the ______________ of earth on its axis

• revolution

• orbit

• rotation

• tilt of the axis

Multiple Choice

What happens when the area in which you live tilts away from the sun?

• It is summer.

• It is spring.

• It is winter.

• It is fall.

Multiple Choice

Why do we experience the changing of the season on the earth?

• distance from the sun

• rotation of the earth

• change in solar output

• tilt of the earth's axis

Multiple Choice

Which season is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere in Position 1?

• Winter

• Spring

• Summer

• Fall

Multiple Choice

Which season have the same amount of daylight hours?

• Spring & Fall

• Winter & Summer

• None of the seasons have equal daylight hours

• All are equal

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Multiple Choice

If Earth did not have a tilted axis, what would happen?

• The Earth would no longer orbit the Sun.

• Earth would have no seasons.

• Earth would orbit the sun more quickly.

• Nothing would change, Earth would still experience the four seasons.

Multiple Choice

Why is the Equator warmest?

• Because it is closest to the sun.

• Because it receives the most direct sunlight

• Because no clouds form here.

• Because it is far from the sun

Multiple Choice

When are shadows the longest?

• at noon

• shortly after noon

• after dark

• in early morning or late evening

Multiple Choice

One full orbit is called a...

• Axis

• Rotation

• Inertia

• Revolution