Tilt & Seasons
What is the tilt (in degrees) of Earth's axis relative to its orbital plane?
23.5∘
What causes day and night on Earth?
Earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night
Which two bodies mainly cause ocean tides on Earth?
The Moon and the Sun (primarily the Moon)
What is a spring tide
Spring tides are higher than average (and low tides are lower than average)
Draw a model of a neap time.
(location of sun, earth and moon)
During which month does the Northern Hemisphere experience the summer solstice (approximate)?
June 21st
How long does it take Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis?
About 24 hours (approximately 24 hours)
Which of those bodies has the stronger effect on tides, and why?
The Moon, because it is much closer to Earth so its gravitational pull on nearby water is stronger despite being less massive than the Sun.
During what Moon phases do spring tides occur?
New Moon and Full Moon (Sun, Moon, Earth aligned)
Give one simple example of a model students can build to show Earth’s tilt and orbit.
Example: Styrofoam ball on a stick (Earth, tilted) orbiting a lamp (Sun) with a small ball or coin for the Moon.
Explain why the hemisphere tilted toward the Sun has warmer temperatures.
The hemisphere tilted toward the Sun receives more direct sunlight (higher solar angle) and longer daylight hours, increasing heating.
What direction does the sun rise?
EAST
"Early in the EAST"
What is a neap tide?
A tidal bulge is the area of ocean water pulled toward (and opposite) the Moon, creating high tides on opposite sides of Earth.
What is a neap tide — higher or lower than average tides?
Neap tides are lower than average (the difference between high and low tides is smaller)
Using a model, how could you demonstrate why the Southern Hemisphere has summer when the Northern Hemisphere has winter?
Name two observable changes that occur on Earth when seasons change (one about daylight and one about temperature or vegetation).
Examples: longer daylight hours in summer; warmer temperatures / leaves on trees change color in fall.
How does the length of daylight change from winter to summer in one hemisphere?
Daylight length increases from winter to summer as the Sun’s path across the sky is longer and higher — more hours above the horizon.
Why are there usually two high tides and two low tides each day at many coastal locations?
Because of Earth’s rotation, each coastal location passes through two tidal bulges per day, producing two high and two low tides.
During what Moon phases do neap tides occur?
First quarter and Third (last) quarter Moons (Sun and Moon at right angles relative to Earth)
Predict what would happen to seasons if Earth had no tilt — describe one major change.
Earth had no tilt, there would be no seasons as we know them; each latitude would experience roughly the same climate year-round (no large seasonal changes).
Draw or describe how Earth's tilt and orbit combine so that opposite hemispheres have opposite seasons.
Model answer: diagram showing tilted axis (about 23.5∘23.5∘) with one hemisphere tilted toward Sun (summer) and opposite hemisphere tilted away (winter) as Earth orbits.
What direction does the sun set?
WEST
"Rest in the West"
Describe how gravitational pull and the inertia of water combine to create the tidal pattern on Earth.
Gravitational pull of the Moon causes water to be attracted toward the Moon; inertia (centrifugal effect from Earth–Moon system rotation) produces a bulge on the opposite side.
Explain why spring tides are stronger than neap tides using the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
When Sun and Moon align (spring), their gravitational pulls combine (constructive), making higher high tides and lower low tides; when at right angles (neap), pulls partially cancel, reducing tidal range.
Design (briefly) a classroom activity or demonstration that shows how the Moon’s position affects tides; list materials and the main steps.
Example activity: tray of water (ocean), a small rubber ball (Moon) moved around a larger ball (Earth) while a flashlight (Sun) remains fixed; observe water levels at different positions. Materials: shallow tray, water, small ball for Earth, smaller ball for Moon, flashlight. Steps: place Earth in center, fill tray, move Moon around Earth and note water bulges; add flashlight to show combined Sun–Moon effects for spring tides.