The cause of the seasons on Earth is often mistakenly attributed to the elliptical orbit of Earth around the sun. What is the actual cause of the seasons?
Tha actual cause of the seasons is because of the tilt of Earth's axis.
please correct me if i'm wrong, thanks :-)
You are absolutely correct! The actual cause of the seasons on Earth is not the elliptical orbit around the sun, but rather the tilt of Earth's axis. The Earth's axis is inclined at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun. This tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight at different times of the year.
During summer, the hemisphere (either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere) that is tilted towards the sun receives more direct sunlight for a longer duration, leading to warmer temperatures and longer days. Conversely, during winter, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun receives less direct sunlight, resulting in cooler temperatures and shorter days. The equinoxes, which occur in spring and autumn, are when the tilt of Earth's axis is perpendicular to the sun, causing both hemispheres to receive equal amounts of sunlight, resulting in milder temperatures.
Understanding the tilt of Earth's axis and its effect on the amount of sunlight reaching different parts of the planet helps to explain the changes in seasons. It's great that you have a clear understanding of this concept!