Understanding the Causes of Seasons

What causes the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, fall, and winter)?

• Earth's distance from the Sun

• Earth's tilt of axis and its changing position as it orbits the Sun

• The Moon's gravitational pull

• The rotation of Earth on its axis.

During which month does the Northern Hemisphere experience summer due to the tilt of Earth's axis?

• March

• June

• September

• December

What is the most intense angle at which light from the Sun hits the Earth's surface?

• 45°

• 60°

• 90°

• 30°

Latitude lines run _______ and measure the distance north or south of the equator.

• north and south

• east and west

• diagonally

• vertically

Which of the following lines of latitude is located at 66.5°N?

• Tropic of Cancer

• Arctic Circle

• Antarctic Circle

• Tropic of Capricorn

The Tropic of Capricorn is located at ______.

• 23.5°N

• 23.5°S

• 66.5°N

• 66.5°S

What is the main focus of a planetary astronomer?

• Studying the Earth's core

• Studying planets and their seasons

• Studying ocean currents

• Studying human anatomy.

Fill in the blank: The tilt of Earth's axis is responsible for the ______.

• A) phases of the moon

• B) ocean tides

• C) seasons

• D) day and night

What is the imaginary line of latitude that divides Earth into two equal hemispheres?

• Tropic of Cancer

• Equator

• Arctic Circle

• Antarctic Circle

The further you travel north or south of the equator, the more extreme the differences are between the seasons, including temperatures and hours of daylight. At the equator, there are very few differences between the seasons, with warmer temperatures all year long and hours of daylight always being __ hours a day.

• 10

• 12

• 14

• 16