Why do we have different seasons?
(8th grader response)
We have different seasons because of the tilt of the Earth's axis. The Earth is on a tilt of about 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun. This tilt causes the amount of sunlight that reaches different parts of the Earth to vary throughout the year.
During the summer season, the hemisphere tilted towards the sun receives more direct sunlight. This means that the sun's rays hit the Earth's surface more directly, creating warmer temperatures. As a result, we experience longer days and shorter nights.
In contrast, during the winter season, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun receives less direct sunlight. This leads to cooler temperatures and shorter days with longer nights.
Spring and autumn occur between summer and winter, when the Earth is not tilted directly towards or away from the sun. This causes more equal amounts of daylight and darkness, resulting in milder temperatures.
In conclusion, the seasons occur because of the Earth's tilt and the varying amount of sunlight reaching different parts of the world throughout the year.