northern and southern hemisphere?

Question

If you say in december, the southern hemisphere will be facing the sun that means it will cause summer. So northern hemisphere will cause winter. But the earth itself is also rotating around it's own axis that means there will be sometimes when the northern hemisphere is facing the sun. So why december in northern hemisphere (countries there) is winter for that month?

oh..I think I've understand it now. But it's really very difficult to understand without picture. Thanks for all your help!

Answer 1

Both hemispheres are facing the sun. The reason for the temperature changes in the summer and winter for each is because the angle of the tilt of the earth on it's axis causes one hemisphere to face the sun more directly and at a closer distance than the other, in the summer.

Answer 2

This will be pretty hard to explain without pictures.

The earth is tilted on its axis, so, let's say, in June, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. That's summer for the northern hemisphere.

Now take that tilted earth and move it to the other side of the sun without changing the tilt or direction of the axis. This represents December. The northern hemisphere will now be tilted away from the sun, so it will be winter there.

Answer 3

The first three answers I saw all explain the geometric position correctly. That is the cause of the effect. What the tilt and rotation cause is longer days for the part of the Earth that is 'nearer' (the distance difference is so small that this is irrelevant) sun. Since solar insolation is one of the factors that warm the Earth in the first place when the days are longer that area generates more heat.

Answer 4

the earths axis is at an angle to the sun so its revolution doesnt effect which end (north or south) is facing it. Lets just say it leans to the right.... If you were looking at a side view from outer space when it is on the left side of the sun the top is closer when its on the right side of the sun the bottom is closer.