4 of 44 of 4 Items

Question
Use this sentence: Earth is closest to the sun in January when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

How is this possible?

(1 point)
Responses

The sun is heating the Northern Hemisphere more in winter, but it takes awhile for it to heat up.
The sun is heating the Northern Hemisphere more in winter, but it takes awhile for it to heat up.

It heats up to a higher temperature during the day, but it still ends up colder because the days are shorter.
It heats up to a higher temperature during the day, but it still ends up colder because the days are shorter.

The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance.
The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance.

The sun is smaller during the winter months.
The sun is smaller during the winter months.
Skip to navigation
page 13 of 13

Explanation: The key factor in determining the temperature on Earth is the angle at which the sun's rays strike the planet, not the distance between Earth and the sun. This angle changes throughout the year due to Earth's tilt on its axis, causing different seasons in each hemisphere. In January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, resulting in colder temperatures despite being closer to the sun in its orbit.