During which month and which Northern Hemisphere’s season, is Earth Closest to the Sun? Farthest from the Sun?
Requirements: depends on the question
Names:
PHY 1040 – The Seasons
Most people think that the seasons on Earth are the result of the changing Earth-Sun distance. Objective of this activity is to find out if this explanation is correct.
Part 1: Earth – Sun distance
The table below shows that the distance Earth-Sun varies during the year. This is the result of the slightly elongated orbit of our planet around the Sun.
During which month and which Northern Hemisphere’s season, is Earth
Closest to the Sun?
Farthest from the Sun?
When it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, what is the season in the Southern Hemisphere?
Consider the following discussion,
Student 1: I know that it is hotter in summer and colder in winter, so we must be closer to the Sun in summer.
Student 2: I disagree. Although the distance Earth – Sun varies during the year, I don’t believe this to be the cause of seasons. If the seasons were due to the Earth – Sun distance, then both hemispheres would have the same season at the same time.
Do you agree or disagree with either or both students? Explain.
Part 2: Tilt of Earth’s Axis
Another factor to keep in mind is the 23.5o tilt of Earth’s axis. The figure below shows the Earth at two different locations along the orbit, six months apart.
Clearly, the angle formed by the rays coming from the Sun with Earth’s surface is different at each of the three regions identified with the letters A, B, C and D, E, F.
This means that the same amount of radiation is spread over different areas.
A and F
B and E
C and D
Questions 1 – 3: circle or highlight your choice
Which of these regions receive more direct light (amount of energy per unit area) from the Sun?
A and F B and E C and D
If we were to place a thermometer at these locations, which one would read the highest temperature in June?
A B C D E F
Which one would read the highest temperature in December?
A B C D E F
If there were no axial tilt, would there still be seasons? Explain.
Part 3: Amount of Daylight
The figure below shows the path of the Sun in the sky at our latitude at different times of the year. The Sun describes the longest arc in the sky on Summer Solstice (June 21) and the shortest on Winter Solstice (December 21).
On the Equinoxes (March 21 & September 21) the Sun rises exactly in the East and sets exactly in the West.
During which season, Summer or Winter, is the number of daylight hours the greatest? Why?
During which season, Summer or Winter, is the Sun at the highest point in the sky at noon?
Summary:
Consider the following debate between two students about the cause of Earth’s seasons.
Student 1: The seasons are caused by Earth getting closer and farther from the
Sun, with Earth being hotter in the summer because we are closer.
Student 2: I disagree. I think the distance stays about the same; rather, the
Earth’s tilt causes summer days to be longer and the Sun’s rays to be
more direct, causing the warmer summer weather.
Do you agree or disagree with either or both students? Provide your reasoning.
Considering that the Earth-Sun distance varies between 147 and 152 million km throughout the year, which of these ellipses do you think better represents the shape of Earth’s orbit, A, B or C (is it nearly circular or very elongated)?
A
B
C
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