The Earth orbits the Sun, but rotates around its own axis. That axis is tilted at an angle to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. As a result, the Sun's elevation at midday changes over the course of the year when measured from the same geographic location -- highest in summer, lowest in winter. So your shadow is longer in the winter than the summer.
If you plot the location of the sun at the same time each day over the course of a year, you get a shape called an "analemma", showing how it is higher in summer than winter. For example, see http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap071204.html or http://solar-center.stanford.edu/art/analemma.html .
2007-12-10 09:38:11
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answer #1
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answered by rickrussell_ca 2
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Because of the Earth's tilt to the sun. The Earth tilts back and forth as it rotates around the sun. This why we have our seasonal changes. And, as the angle of the sun changes, so does our shadow length.
Look. You will notice, in winter the sun set further down than in summer. This why the days not as long too. Go to Montana in the Summer (May for sure) and it trip you out, gets dark around Sunrise. LOL!
2007-12-10 17:16:40
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answer #2
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answered by Snaglefritz 7
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It depends on what time of day it is as to how long (or short) a person's shadow is. Early in the morning and late in the day... your shadow will be longer than it will be at noon. I don't think it matters what season it is all that much, if at all. If seasons do have anything to do with it, I'd say it's b/c the sun is closer to the particular hemisphere in which you live during the summer than it is during the winter.
2007-12-10 17:14:20
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answer #3
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answered by tuberk768 5
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