SEASONS and the Earth’s Axis

Sutton Middle School

Earth’s Axis

Line that goes between the Northern and Southern Poles. Earth always remains on a tilt based on this axis.

The Sun!

Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the sun. 1 Revolution takes 1 year.

Rotation

The Earth Rotates around itself, about the axis. 1 Rotation is 1 day - creates day and night. Do you think that everyone in the world has day at the same time?

Think, Pair, Share!!

What are the seasons?

What do causes seasons?

(2 minutes)

HemisphereThe Earth is divided into two hemispheres (Northern and Southern)The imaginary line that divides the two are the equator.

- What continents do you notice are in each?

Seasons

While the Earth revolves around the sun, it spins on its axis. The axis of the spin is tilted 23.5º in relation to the orbit.The Earth’s tilt is what causes seasons to come and go as our planet makes its way around the sun.Without the tilt, the seasons wouldn’t change and it would be about the same temperature year round wherever you lived.

Seasons

- Seasons are caused because of the Earth’s relationship to the Sun - based on the 23.5º tilt of the axis.

- If one hemisphere is titled towards to the sun = summer.

- If one hemisphere is tilted away from the sun = winter.

- Fall and Spring = The Sun directly hits the equator, neither hemisphere is closer to the sun.

SeasonsWhen the sunlight strikes the Northern Hemisphere directly, the days are longer and hotter (summer).While the sunlight is striking the Northern Hemisphere directly, it is striking the Southern Hemisphere at an angle, causing the days to be shorter and colder (winter).When the Earth is on the other side of the sun, the seasons are reversed.The Southern Hemisphere begins winter when the Northern Hemisphere starts summer. The seasons north and south of the equator are always opposite each other.

Seasons

In the Northern Hemisphere, spring starts with the vernal equinox on March 20th or 21st. Neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun.Summer begins with the summer solstice on June 21st. Sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator.Fall starts on the autumnal equinox on September 22nd or 23rd.Winter begins with the winter solstice on December 21st or 22nd.

Fall

Spring

Seasons based on the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Review:

-What do the following words mean?

-Axis

-Revolution

-Rotation

-Hemisphere

-Seasons