Seasons worksheet

I Unit 7 Tne Seasons r Narne
Name: Period: Date: EN
I Unit 7 Tne Seasons r Narne
Date THE SEASONS Per
I Unit 7 Tne Seasons r Narne
Although the distance between Datethe Ea.th and the sunPer
Although the distance between the Earth and the sun varies
Date Per
on an annual cycle, this change is too small to cause seasons.
Our Although seasons are the distance caused by between the 23½° the Ea.th tilt of and Earth’s the sun axis. This
tilt varies causes on the an sun’s annual path cycle, through this chatge the sky is to too change small to
throughout
cause
the year. Summer starts when the noon sun is the
the seasons. Our seasons are caused by the the
---- fl'
highest in the sky, and when the sun is in the sky for the
23yr' tilt of Eanh's axis. This tilt causes rhe sun's path
greatest length of time.
Earth's Tilt
though the sky to change throughour rhe year. Summer
Causes the Seasons
In the starts Northern when the Hemisphere, noon sufl is the the longest highest in day, the and sky, the andday
when when the the noon sun sun is in is fte the sky highest for the in greatesr the sky, lengrh occurs of about rime.
June 21. That’s when our sunlight is the most direct. But, south of the equator, this is also when the sun is
lowest In fte in Nortiem the sky Hemisphere,
and when the the days longest are the day, shortest. and the day Therefore, when the the noon seasons sun is are the six highest months in the out sky, of phase
north occu$ and about south June of the 21. equator. That's when our suniight is the most direct But, south of tie equaror, this is also
when the sun is lowest in the sky and when the days are shortest. Therefore, the seasons arc six months
The out second of Dhase diagram north and is an south oblique of the view eouator. of Earth’s orbit around the sun.
The 1. second In what diagram month is is ar Earth closest to
oblique the view sun? of Earth's
orbit around the sun.
1. In what month is Earth
2. closest Why doesn’t to the sun? the changing
distance between the Earth and
the sun affect the seasons?
-'s+t:*-'t:"t:*
tf\e
3. What actually causes seasons?
r'
Although the distance between the Ea.th and the sun
varies on an annual cycle, this chatge is too small to
cause the seasons. Our seasons are caused by the the
---- fl'
23yr' tilt of Eanh's axis. This tilt causes rhe sun's path
Earth's Tilt
though the sky to change throughour rhe year. Summer
Causes the Seasons
starts when the noon sufl is the highest in the sky, and
when the sun is in fte sky for the greatesr lengrh of rime.
In fte Nortiem Hemisphere, the longest day, and the day when the noon sun is the highest in the sky,
occu$ about June 21. That's when our suniight is the most direct But, south of tie equaror, this is also
when the sun is lowest in the sky and when the days are shortest. Therefore, the seasons arc six months
out of Dhase north and south of the eouator.
The second diagram is ar
oblique view of Earth's
orbit around the sun.
1. In what month is Earth
closest to the sun?
-'s+t:*-'t:"t:*
tf\e
VERTICALFAY
2. Why doe 't the
changing distance
between the Earth and
, -,' W NIER
SOLST]CE
SOLSTICE
sun affect the seasolls?
]UNE2I
DECEMBER2l
r'
varies on an annual cycle, this chatge is too small to
cause the seasons. Our seasons are caused by the the
---- fl'
23yr' tilt of Eanh's axis. This tilt causes rhe sun's path
Earth's Tilt
though the sky to change throughour rhe year. Summer
Causes the Seasons
starts when the noon sufl is the highest in the sky, and
when the sun is in fte sky for the greatesr lengrh of rime.
In fte Nortiem Hemisphere, the longest day, and the day when the noon sun is the highest in the sky,
occu$ about June 21. That's when our suniight is the most direct But, south of tie equaror, this is also
when the sun is lowest in the sky and when the days are shortest. Therefore, the seasons arc six months
out of Dhase north and south of the eouator.
The second diagram is ar
oblique view of Earth's
orbit around the sun.
1. In what month is Earth
closest to the sun?
-'s+t:*-'t:"t:*
tf\e
VERTICALFAY
2. Why doe 't the
changing distance
between the Earth and
, -,' W NIER
SOLST]CE
SOLSTICE
sun affect the seasolls?
]UNE2I
DECEMBER2l
r'
VERTICALFAY
2. Why doe 't the
changing distance
between the Earth and
, -,' W NIER
SOLST]CE
SOLSTICE
sun affect the seasolls?
]UNE2I
DECEMBER2l
3. what actually causes the seasons?
3. what actually causes the seasons?
3. what actually causes the seasons?
4. When it is summer in the Bay Area, in Argentina and South Africa it is
Earth's Orbit is Slightly Eccentric (Out of Round)
Earth's Orbit is Slightly Eccentric (Out of Round)
Earth's Orbit is Slightly Eccentric (Out of Round)
4. When it is surnmer in New York, in Arsendna and South Af.ica it is
4. When it is surnmer in New York, in Arsendna and South Af.ica it is
Of course, in our observations from Earth, we note the
4. When Noon it is in surnmer June in New York, in Arsendna changing and Of South course, path Af.ica in of our the it isobservatiorN
sun through the from sky, Earth, rather we note than the the
Noon in June
movement changing Of course,
of path in
our planet of our the observatiorN
sun in its tlLrough from
orbit. the sky, Earth, rather we than note the
Noon in June '(t
Of course, changing in our path observatiorN of the sun tlLrough from Earth, the sky, we note rather thethan
the
'(t
movement of our planet in its orbit.
changing 5. movement According path of of the to our this sun planet diagram, tlLrough in its the how orbit. sky, high rather is the than noon the
Noon
'(t
movement 5. According
of our planet to this in diagram,
Dec. Noon
5.
its orbit.
how According high is the to this noon diagram,
sun in the Bay Area on
sun
June
in
21?
Noon
Dec. i/
5. According lhe how New high to York this is the diagram, region noon on sun June in21?
Dec. i/
how high lhe New is the York noon region sun inon
June 21?
6. How high on December 21?
i/ AA
6. lhe How New high York on region December on June 2l? 21?
A
6. How high on December 2l?
7. What is the annual range? (the change in altitude)
6. 7. How What's high on the December annual range? 2l?
7. (The
What's the annual range?
change in aldtude)
7. What's (The the change annual in range? aldtude)
(= 2x 23½) \= 2 x 23vf)
\= 2 x 23vf)
The Sun's Sun’s Path
in New York (The change
The Sun's Path in New York
The Sun's Path in New York
in aldtude) \= 2 x 23vf)
@ I},8 Tbu, May ?. i996
@ I},8 Tbu, May ?. i996
@ I},8 Tbu, May ?. i996
I
I

Each letter in this diagram
represents a position of the
Earth in its annual revolution
around Each the letler sun. u this diagram
represents Each letler a position u this diagram of
the 8. represents Earth What in month its a annual position is shown of
revolutlon the by Earth letter around in its annual the sun.
revolutlon around the sun.
8. What A. month is shown
8. by What lettermonth
is shown
by B. letter
C.
'.,8?
'.,8?
D.
...c]
...c]
...D?
of the SolsticePositions
...D?
Answer Answer 9-17 8 A, -17, B, C or A, D B, based C, or on the D based diagram upon above. the use of the diagram above.
Answer 8 -17, A, B, C, or D based upon the use of the diagram above.
9. The 9. The day day when when the noon the noon sun sun is highest is the highest in the Bay ir New Area: York:
9. The day when the noon sun is the highest ir New York:
10. 10. The The date date of the of the most most concentrated insolation in in the New Bay York: Area
10. The date of the most concentrated insolation in New York:
11. Lt. Our Our first first day day of winter: of winter:
Lt. Our first day of winter:
12. r2. First First day day of spring of spring in New in New York York:
r2. First day of spring in New York:
13. 13. Earth’s
Earth's
closest
closcst
approach approach to the to the sun: sun: (apogee)
(apogee)
(approximate
(app.oximate
position) position)
13. Earth's closcst approach to the sun: (apogee) (app.oximate position)
14. Aufumna.l equrnox:
14. Autumnal equinox:
14. Aufumna.l equrnox:
15. The beginnrng of 5ummer in the Souhem HemNpherel
15. The beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere:
15. The beginnrng of 5ummer in the Souhem HemNpherel
16. Earth's greatest distance from the sun: (perigee) (approximate position)
16. Earth’s 16. Earth's greatest greatest distance distance from from the sun: the sun:
(perigee_ (perigee) (approximate (approximate position) position)
1,7 . The shortest day of the year in the United States:
17. The 1,7 . shortest The shortest day of day the of year the in year the in United the United States States:
Base your answers to 18,22 on fiis
Base diagram Base your your of answers the answers orbit on of 18-22 to the 18,22 Eafih. on this on diagram fiis of the
orbit diagram of the Earth. of the orbit of the Eafih.
18. First day of our summer.
18. First day day of of our our summer.
19. Eaih is closest to the sun.
19. Earth is closest to the sun.
19. Eaih is closest to the sun.
20. 20. Marches Matches position A A on rhe the diagram at the top
20. diagram of Marches the page. at the position top ofrhe A on page. rhe
diagram at the top ofrhe page.
21. When our noon sun is lowest in the sky.
21. When our noon sun
21. Iowesr When our noon sun
Iowesr
22. South Pole is in bright daylight
22. South Pole is in bnght daylighl
22. South Pole is in bnght daylighl
Sun
Sun
Earth's Orbit withEnlargemenls
Earth's of the Orbit Solstice with Positions Enlargemenls
North Pole
North Pole
in the sky. ..' Another View
in the sky. ..' Another View
Plge 2 1lf6 sar.leb 24. 1996
Plge 2 1lf6 sar.leb 24. 1996