Reasons for Seasons

Explain the cause of seasons on the earth.

The cause of seasons on Earth are its atmosphere and its degree of tilt, which both affect the amount of solar energy that reaches each part of Earth at any time.

What do shadows look like during solar noon in the summer.

The sun is at it's highest point in the sky, so the shadows is at it's shortest point.

The Sun's Path in Summer Compared to Winter

The sun is much higher in the sky during the summer path compared to the winter. Also, the summer sun rises earlier and sets later than winter sun.

Explain how the angle of the sun's rays determines weather/temperature.

The tilt of the Earth on its axis affects the angle at which the Sun's rays strike Earth. The higher the Sun's angle, the more intense the solar radiation and the less atmosphere the rays have to pass through.

What is solar noon?

The time of day when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky for a given place on Earth.

Atmosphere

When sunlight has to travel through more of earth's atmosphere, heat energy is lost to the atmosphere and does not reach the earth's surface.

Is the shape of the earth's orbit related to seasons? Explain.

Yes, the shape of the Earth's orbit is related to seasons because the curvature of Earth allows the sun to strike the low poles and provide summer weather. Without this shape some places on Earth would see no change in seasons.

What causes the apparent motion of the Sun and Moon across the sky?

the earth's rotation on it's axis

Solstice

twice each year (in June and December) as the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky.

autumnal equinox

September 22

What is the tilt of earth

23.5 degrees

Winter solstice

December 21

The Sun's Path at Different Times of the Year

During winter the sun is low in the sky and the days are shorter. During summer the days are longer and the sun is at it's highest point in the sky. During spring and autumn the sun is at a medium point in the sky, and the days are longer than winter, but shorter than summer.

What causes day and night?

Earth's 24 hour rotation on its axis. Day is when we face toward the sun and night is when we face away from the sun.

Changes in the Path of the Sun are Caused by what?

Earth's Orbit on it's Tilted Axis

Equinox:

Either of two times of the year (fall or spring) during a planet's orbit when the north and south poles are equidistant from the Sun, causing day and night to be equal in length.

Summer solstice

June 21

Vernal equinox

March 20

What determines the length of a year?

One revolution or orbit of the earth around the Sun takes 365 1/4 days.

Describe how the sun damages your skin and the retina and lens of your eye.

The Sun damages your skin by causing skin cancer from overexposure to the sunlight. The Sun damages your eye by causing immediate damage, which is when the solar exposure burn the retina of the eye. The Sun damages your lens of your eye because the high levels of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun causes rapid aging of of the outer layers of the eye and skin. This eventually leads to cataracts, which clouds the lens.

Plane of the Ecliptic:

The plane on which all planets revolve around the sun.

What shadow patterns did you observe in the summer?

The shadows during summer are shorter than those in winter. The summer shadows also form longer shadows during sun rise and sun set.

What shadow patterns did you observe in the winter?

The shadows form a fan-like shape because the shadows are longer at the beginning and end of each day.

Length of Day

causes the change in seasons because Earth's tilt affects the length of daylight in any particular region. When a region tilts toward the sun, that region receives longer periods of daylight, causing warmer weather.

The tilt of Earth toward or away from the Sun

causes the change in seasons because Sun changes on a regular basis. Our seasons are determined by the tilt being toward the sun (summer) or away from the sun (winter).

The Angle of Separation

causes the change in seasons because The closer the angle of separation is to 90 degrees, the more directly the sun is shining on the earth's surface. This increases the sun's intensity or strength in a locations, causing it to be warmer.