Answer card
Why do we have seasons?
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Write a guess down before you look, and you will notice what surprises you. You can’t get it wrong.
What we know
- True: “Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun’s most direct rays.” NASA Space Place — What causes the seasons?
- True: A common answer is that summer comes when Earth is closest to the Sun. NASA says: “Although this idea makes sense, it is incorrect.” NASA Space Place — What causes the seasons?
- True: “In the Northern Hemisphere, we are having winter when Earth is closest to the Sun and summer when it is farthest away!” NASA Space Place — What causes the seasons?
What we made simpler
We left out how far Earth is tilted, and why the tilt keeps pointing the same way all year round.
Still open
Exactly how Earth came to be tilted, billions of years ago, is still being worked out.
Next why
Then why is it summer in Australia when it is winter in Canada?
StarForge — The Solar System →Try it
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