What causes the seasons on Earth?

What causes the seasons on Earth?

• A. The distance from the Sun
• B. The tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun
• C. The Moon's phases
• D. The rotation of the Earth

Answer: (B)

The tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun causes the seasons. Because the axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees, different parts of the planet receive sunlight at different angles and for different lengths of the day as Earth travels around the Sun. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, the Sun climbs higher in the sky, days are longer, and sunlight is more direct, making it summer. When it tilts away, the Sun stays lower, days are shorter, and sunlight is less direct, leading to winter. Spring and fall are the transitions between these extremes. The distance to the Sun changes a bit over the year, but that isn’t what creates the seasons—the tilt is the main factor. The Moon’s phases and Earth’s rotation mainly affect tides and day-night cycles, not the seasonal changes. The seasons are opposite in the two hemispheres because their tilts are in opposite directions at the same time.

The tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun causes the seasons. Because the axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees, different parts of the planet receive sunlight at different angles and for different lengths of the day as Earth travels around the Sun. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, the Sun climbs higher in the sky, days are longer, and sunlight is more direct, making it summer. When it tilts away, the Sun stays lower, days are shorter, and sunlight is less direct, leading to winter. Spring and fall are the transitions between these extremes. The distance to the Sun changes a bit over the year, but that isn’t what creates the seasons—the tilt is the main factor. The Moon’s phases and Earth’s rotation mainly affect tides and day-night cycles, not the seasonal changes. The seasons are opposite in the two hemispheres because their tilts are in opposite directions at the same time.