What accounts for climatic conditions becoming progressively cooler between the equator and the poles?

Responses

The Sun is closest to the equator and then gets progressively farther away from the poles, which makes the equator hottest and the poles coolest.
The Sun is closest to the equator and then gets progressively farther away from the poles, which makes the equator hottest and the poles coolest.

The Sun’s spherical shape means that it sends out more solar radiation from its middle to Earth’s middle and less solar radiation from its top and bottom to Earth’s poles.
The Sun’s spherical shape means that it sends out more solar radiation from its middle to Earth’s middle and less solar radiation from its top and bottom to Earth’s poles.

Earth is bigger at the equator, so it absorbs more incoming solar radiation, while it gets progressively smaller going toward the poles and so absorbs progressively less solar radiation.
Earth is bigger at the equator, so it absorbs more incoming solar radiation, while it gets progressively smaller going toward the poles and so absorbs progressively less solar radiation.

Earth’s spherical shape, and the orientation of its spin axis in relation to the Sun’s means that solar radiation comes in more directly at the equator and then gets progressively more indirect as you go toward the poles.

Earth’s spherical shape, and the orientation of its spin axis in relation to the Sun’s means that solar radiation comes in more directly at the equator and then gets progressively more indirect as you go toward the poles.

The correct response is:

Earth’s spherical shape, and the orientation of its spin axis in relation to the Sun’s means that solar radiation comes in more directly at the equator and then gets progressively more indirect as you go toward the poles.