Do you know why it's hot in summer and cold in winter?
2006-06-25 23:49:21 · 7 answers · asked by abhinaya 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Earth is closest to the Sun in early January (winter for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer for those in the Southern Hemisphere) and farthest in early July. Distance, however, has absolutely nothing to do with our seasons. (If it did, the whole world would have the same seasons at the same time.) Seasons are caused by Earth's tilt.
And NO, summer in the Northern Hemisphere is not caused by the Northern Hemisphere being *closer* to the Sun. Think about it - if the varying distance of the entire Earth - several million miles - makes no difference in our seasons, how would the varying distance caused solely by our tilt - a few thousand miles - affect anything? This is a common misconception, but it is wrong.
Seasons are caused by the varying height of the Sun. In the summer, the Sun gets higher in the sky during the day, heating your area of the Earth more effectively. In winter, the Sun does not get very high, and so its energy is more spread out, and thus heats less effectively.
2006-06-26 06:22:11 · answer #1 · answered by kris 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, the earth's orbit is eliptical. The average distance is 93 million miles, but it can be as much as 96 or a little 90. We are slightly closer to the sun during summer, but the main reason for change of season is the earth's tilt on it's own axis. That's why there's such a difference between the northen and the southern hemisphere.
2006-06-25 23:59:50 · answer #2 · answered by evil_tiger_lily 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because earth travels around the sun in a eliptical path or orbit. Its hot is summer because the axis causes one hemisphere of earth to be closer to the sun and in the winter it is farther
2006-06-26 03:20:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because earth travels around the sun in a eliptical path or orbit. Its hot is summer because the axis causes one hemisphere of earth to be closer to the sun and in the winter it is farther.
2006-06-25 23:52:48 · answer #4 · answered by 8 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No....we are approx 1 million miles closer during the northern hemisphere winter...we have season beacause of the tilt of our rotational axis...it causes the angle of the sun to vary at different times of the year....
2006-06-25 23:54:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tilting of the earth's rotation axis results in a variation in the inclination angle of the sun at a certain place. When it is highest in the sky, its energy is most concentrated.
2006-06-26 00:57:57 · answer #6 · answered by Mr.Scientist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO!!!
2006-06-26 07:01:20 · answer #7 · answered by Grape Ape 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋