Seasons
Tilt
Leaning toward or away from another object. (Today, the Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit around the sun. But this tilt changes. During a cycle that averages about 40,000 years, the tilt of the axis varies between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees. Because this tilt changes, the seasons as we know them can become exaggerated.)
Equator
An imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and constituting the parallel of latitude 0°.
Axis
An imaginary line that passes through Earth's center and the North and South poles, about which Earth rotates. The Earth's axis points toward the North Star, at a 23.5-degree tilt to the plane of its orbit about the Sun.
Leap Years
Because the time it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun is about 365 1/4 days we add one day to the calendar every four years to make sure the seasons don't shift over time. We call the years with the extra day added to them ______.
Orbit (or revolution)
One celestial object moving around another.
23.5
The angle which the earth's axis is tilted.
Image of N.H. in summer
The image of the Northern Hemisphere is in which season?
Seasons
The result of the tilt of Earth's axis and the yearly revolution of the Earth around the sun.
Autumnal Equinox
The scientific way to say the day of the year that marks the beginning of fall in the Northern hemisphere
Vernal Equinox
The scientific way to say the day of the year that marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere
Fall
The season experienced between Summer and Winter when the Earth's axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun. The earth is in position 3 during this season in the Northern Hemisphere
Spring
The season experienced between Winter and Summer when the Earth's axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun. The earth is in position 1 during this season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Spring and Fall
The seasons in which all locations on earth are receiving about the same amount of daylight hours
Rotation
The spinning of an object about it's own axis.
Summer
The summer season is experienced in the northern or southern hemisphere when the Earth is in that part of its orbit that the corresponding hemisphere is titled TOWARD the sun. The Earth is in position 2 during the Summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winter
The winter season is experienced in the northern or southern hemisphere when the Earth is in that part of its orbit that the corresponding hemisphere is titled AWAY from the sun. The Earth is in position 4 during the Winter season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winter Solstice
This occurs in December (around the 21st) and marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The Northern Hemisphere is titled away from the Sun.
Summer Solstice
This occurs in June (around the 21st) and marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This is also the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The Northern Hemisphere is titled toward the Sun.
Spring equinox
This occurs in March and marks the beginning of spring in North America.
Fall equinox
This occurs in September and marks the beginning of fall in North America. Also called Autumnal equinox.
Equinox
Two times of year when the day and night lengths are about 12 hours. Equal day and night.
Solstice
Two times of year when the day or night lengths are at their longest or shortest. The northern hemisphere of the earth is either tilted towards or away from the sun at 23.5 degrees, while the southern hemisphere is titled in the opposite direction.
Image of N.H. in Winter
What does image 4 represent in the Northern Hemisphere?
Why are winter temperatures lower (cold)?
Winter occurs in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere when the Earth is in that part of its orbit where, because of its tilted axis, that hemisphere receives less direct light from the Sun. The days are shorter, the Sun is lower in the sky, and the Sunlight's energy is less intense. This causes cooler temperatures in the corresponding hemisphere.
Hemisphere
half of a sphere