Why does the Northern Hemisphere experience seasons?
A. Earth is closer to the Sun during one half of the year than it is during the other half of the year.
B. Sunlight hits the Northern Hemisphere in varying amounts as Earth rotates on its axis.
C. Earth’s tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to be heated in different amounts as Earth revolves around the Sun.****
D. Sunlight hits the Northern Hemisphere with equal intensity throughout the year, but Earth revolves around the Sun.
The correct answer is C. Earth's tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to be heated in different amounts as Earth revolves around the Sun.
To understand why the Northern Hemisphere experiences seasons, we need to consider a few key factors. One of the most important ones is Earth's tilt. Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun.
As Earth revolves around the Sun, this tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to be angled towards or away from the Sun at different times of the year. This means that sunlight hits the Northern Hemisphere in varying amounts as Earth rotates on its axis.
During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, that half of the Earth is tilted towards the Sun, resulting in more direct and concentrated sunlight. This leads to longer days and more intense sunlight, resulting in warmer temperatures.
On the other hand, during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, that half of the Earth is tilted away from the Sun. This means sunlight hits the Northern Hemisphere at a lower angle and is spread out over a larger area, resulting in shorter days and less intense sunlight. Consequently, temperatures are cooler during this time.
As Earth continues its annual orbit around the Sun, the tilt gradually changes the amount of sunlight each hemisphere receives, leading to the cycle of seasons.
So, in summary, the Northern Hemisphere experiences seasons because Earth's tilt causes it to be heated in different amounts as it revolves around the Sun.