Vocabulary
What are the four seasons?
Spring, Summer, Fall (Autumn), and Winter
What degree tilt does Earth have?
23.5
July is a summer month in the Northern Hemisphere. Which of these places would experience winter during July? a. Texas b. England c. Australia
Australia! Northern and Southern Hemispheres have opposite seasons.
What does orbit mean?
The circular or elliptical (oval) path of an object around a point in space.
Would there still be seasons if the Earth was not tilted?
No! If there was no tilt we would experience the same weather all year long.
If it is winter in Maine, which of these places would you go to in order to enjoy summer? a. California b. Madagascar c. China
Madagascar! Opposite hemispheres experience opposite seasons.
What does Rotation mean?
To turn or spin around a center point.
When it is winter, do we receive direct sunlight?
No! Less direct sunlight = cold weather
It is summer in Maine, which of these places would experience summer as well? a. Spain b. Argentina c. South Africa
Spain! It is also located in the Northern Hemisphere.
What does Revolution (Revolve) mean?
To move in a curved path or orbit.
When it is summer do we receive direct sunlight?
Yes, more direct sunlight = warmer weather.
What continent is located in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
Africa!
What is an axis?
An imaginary line that runs through the North and South poles of Earth.
Does having Earth be closer or farther away from the sun cause the seasons?
No! This is a common misconception. However, the Earth does move slightly further or closer to the sun. The path it takes around the sun is not a perfect circle (it's more of an oval) but this does not impact the seasons. There is a changing of the seasons due to the tilt and where the Earth is positioned in it's orbit and which way the tilt is facing (direct or less direct sunlight).
How far away is the Earth from the sun?
About 93,000,000 miles. It takes light from the sun about 8 minutes to reach Earth.