Seasons Quiz

What is the direction that Earth moves on its axis around the sun?

Counterclockwise

When would a planet be moving the slowest in its orbit?

When the planet is further away from the sun

What is a revolution?

object's orbital motion around another object.

How does the angle of the sun change from slanted to direct at different latitudes on earth durning the different seasons and how that affects our temperature?

- When the sun's rays strike Earth's surface near the equator, the incoming solar radiation is more direct (nearly perpendicular or closer to a 90˚ angle). ... At higher latitudes, the angle of solar radiation is smaller, causing energy to be spread over a larger area of the surface and cooler temperatures. - The axis is tilted and points to the North Star no matter where Earth is in its orbit. Because of this, the distribution of the Sun's rays changes. ... The "fixed" tilt means that, during our orbit around our Sun each year, different parts of Earth receive sunlight for differentlengths of time.

How long does it take the Earth to rotate?

24 hours

How long does it take the Earth to revolve around the sun?

365 (1 year)

Where does the sun hit during the fall/spring equinox?

At the equinox, the Sun's rays shine most directly on the equator, and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get the same amount of Sunlight. At the equator the sun is directly overhead at Noon

What would happen if to our seasons if the Earth's tilt was changed?

As the axial tilt increases, the seasonal contrast increases so that winters are colder and summers are warmer in both hemispheres. ... More tilt means more severe seasons—warmer summers and colder winters; less tilt means less severe seasons—cooler summers and milder winters

How does the hours of sunlight change throughout the latitudes by season?

Between summer and winter solstice, the number of daylight hours decreases, and the rate of decrease is larger the higher the latitude.

What season has the highest angle of sunlight?

During the summer solstice, the Sun shines most directly on the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the equator, giving its most direct energy on Earth to the Northern Hemisphere.

How does the altitude of the sun change throughout the seasons?

During the summer, the solar altitude will be at its maximum. During the winter, the solar altitude will be at its minimum. The change in solar altitude throughout the seasons results in hotter temperatures in the summer and cooler temperatures in the winter.

Why is it warmer in the summer?

During the summer, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a steep angle. The light does not spread out as much, thus increasing the amount of energy hitting any given spot. Also, the long daylight hours allow the Earth plenty of time to reach warm temperatures

Why is it colder in the Winter?

During the winter, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle. These rays are more spread out, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spot. Also, the long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up.

What causes the sun to rise and set?

Earth spinning on it's axis (Rotation)

What causes day and night on Earth?

Earth's rotation on its axis

What region of the earth always receives direct sunlight?

Equator: Earth's axis always points in the same direction. Because of this, the part of Earth that receives the most direct rays from the Sun changes as the Earth travels around the Sun. At the equinox, the Sun's rays shine most directly on the equator, and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get the same amount of Sunlight.

Why is it warmer at the equator?

It is warmer near the equator because sunlight hits Earth's surface most directly near the equator. Near the poles, sunlight arrives at a steep angle, so it must spread out over a greater area.

When is the sun furthest away from the Earth?

The sun is furthest away on July 4th

When would a planet be moving the fastest in its orbit?

When the planet is closer to the sun

How long does it take the moon to revolve around the Earth?

The Moon makes a complete orbit around the Earth approximately once every 27 days

What area on Earth can get 24 hours of daylight or darkness? When does this occur?

The North Pole: the north pole receives 24 hours of daylight for a few months in the summer and total darkness for months in the winter.

What season has the lowest angle of sunlight?

The Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located at 23.5° south of the equator

What is the difference between an equinox and a solstice?

The change of the length of day and night. The equinox has the equal amount of daylight and darkness received across earth

How does the distance from the sun affect a planets revolution (orbital period)?

The closer a planet is to the Sun, the stronger the Sun's gravitational pull on it, and the faster the planet moves. The farther it is from the Sun, the weaker the Sun's gravitational pull, and the slower it moves in its orbit.

How does the length and director of shadows change throughout the day?

When the Sun is low on the horizon, the shadows are long. When the Sun is high in the sky, the shadows are much shorter.

What is rotation?

The spinning of Earth on its axis

Northern Hemisphere is experiencing winter when:

The sun is CLOSEST to it

When is the sun closest to the Earth?

The sun is closest to the Earth on January 3rd

Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer when:

The sun is face FURTHEST away from it

What direction does the sun rise and set?

rises in the east and sets in the west

Orbital period

the time taken for a given object to make one complete orbit around another object (e.g., The Earth around the sun)

Why do we have seasons?

tilt of the earth's axis (not changing distance from the sun)