earth revolve around sun in elliptical orbit, why we do not have twice summer and winter?

Question

earth revolve around sun in elliptical orbit, when earth is far from sun ( on major axis) we will have winter similarly when earth is nearest to sun we have summer(on minor axis).
If we consider this as true then we should have twice summer and winter in one revolution of earth.

Answer 1

The seasons are not based on the orbit of the sun. It is based on the tilt of the earth, which remains constant during it's orbit around the sun. During half the orbit the northern hemisphere gets more sunlight hence it's in summer. During the other half of the orbit the southern hemisphere recieves more sunlight therefore it's in summer. So technically, yes there are two winters and summers, just in the opposite hemispheres.

Answer 2

First of all, the sun is not at the center of the ellipse. It is at a focus. This means that there is one closest point and one farthest point for the earth and the sun, not two each.

Second, the seasons are not determined by how close we are to the sun. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. The seasons are actually determined by how much sunlight falls on each piece of area. Because of the tilt of the earth, this is more at some times than at others. When the sun is closer to being overhead, it is summer When it is lower in the sky all day, it is winter.

It turns out that the earth is farther away from the sun in the Northern summer than it is during the Northern winter.

Answer 3

The truth is that the Earth is actually closer to the sun in the Winter than the Summer. It is the Earth's tilt on it's axis that causes it to be hotter in the summer due to the sunlight being more direct in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere has the reverse seasons. Light takes an average of 8 min and 20 sec to reach Earth. (In the Fall and Spring) It actually takes 8 min 10 sec in the winter and 8 min and 30 seconds in the summer, due to the distance difference. Also the shape of the orbit changes over time going from elliptical to more of a perfect circle. We just happen to living now at this phase of its cycle.

Answer 4

The Earth is tilted by 23 1/2 degrees. During the Summer months,
the north is pointed toward the Sun allowing more direct sunlight.
During the winter, we are tilted away from the sun so the sunlight
is more indirect as the sun seems lower in the sky.
There are 4 cardinal points in our calender;
Summer solstice, autumnal equinox, winter solstice and vernal equinox.
Beginning of summer, fall, winter and spring. This coincides
with the position of earth as it goes around the sun.
Each of the cardinal days can take place over a three day period,
20th, 21st, 22nd. On June 22nd, summer solstice, it is the longest
day of the year. It is also the day that the north pole is pointing
directly at the sun. The next day it will have passed this point
and start pointing away from the sun, hence, the days will also start
getting shorter. For further info,
feel free to email me, [e-mail]

Answer 5

becasue the earth is inclined by 66.5 degrees with respect to it's vertical axis. So only one half (either north or south) somes closer to sun and goes away from sun once a year (while the once round around the sun completes). Thus one half of the earth has one summer and one winter. Now if you see the whole earth, you will see, when we have winter in northern hemisphere, we have winter in south and vice versa... I hope I have explained your question :)

Answer 6

Firstly, both summer and winter occur on the major axis. Secondly, seasons are most restricted by the tilting of Earth's rotation axis that results in the variation in the inclination of the sun along the year.

Answer 7

its has to due with the tilt of the earth... we technically due have two summers and two winters just not in the same hemisphere.