What causes days and nights to be longer or shorter?

The length of days and nights is determined by the Earth's rotation around its axis. As the Earth rotates, different parts of the planet are exposed to sunlight, resulting in day and night. The length of day and night changes depending on the season and the Earth's position relative to the Sun. During the summer, days are longer because the Earth is tilted towards the Sun, while during the winter, days are shorter because the Earth is tilted away from the Sun.