Seasons, Equinoxes, & Solstices

Why do globes lean sideways?

• to allow them to spin easier
• to demonstrate the tilt of the Earth's axis
• to demonstrate the passing of the seasons
• to demonstrate the effects of gravity

What causes the seasons to change?

• the Earth's orbit changes its distance from the Sun
• the warming and cooling of the Earth's core
• The Earth's tilt in relation to the Sun
• The Earth's rotation on its axis

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

• It's summer in your area
• It's spring in your area
• It's fall in your area
• It's winter in your area

In the sentence, "Winter sunlight strikes the Earth at an oblique angle," what does "oblique" mean?

• direct
• 90-degree 
• indirect 
• acute

What happens when it's spring in the Southern Hemisphere?

• It's fall in the Northern Hemisphere
• It's spring in the Northern Hemisphere
• It's summer in the Northern Hemisphere
• It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere

How are winters in the Northern Hemisphere different from winters in the Southern Hemisphere?

• Winter days are short in the Northern Hemisphere, and long in the South
• Northern Hemisphere winters are cold; Southern winters are hot
• In the Northern Hemisphere, winter lasts from December to March; In the South, it lasts from June to September
• In the Northern Hemisphere, winter lasts from June to September; in the South, it lasts from December to March

Why does the area around the equator stay the same temperature year-round?

• It tilts towards the sun in summer, so has longer hours of daylight.

• It receives the same amount of direct sunlight year-round

• Its days are more than 18 hours long year-round

• The equator rotates slower than the poles

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, on which day of the year will your hometown receive the most daylight?  

• September 21
• December 21
• March 21
• June 21

Where and when would you find almost 24 hours of daylight

• In South America during spring
• In the Arctic Circle during summer
• In Jamaica during the Winter
• In the Antarctic Circle during winter

Which of the following describes the vernal equinox?

• It's the first day of fall
• It occurs on March 20 or 21
• On that day, the Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere
• It has the shortest hours of daylight