Name ___________________________________________ Hr_____________
Seasons Virtual Lab
Learning Objectives: To identify the relationship between the tilt of the
Earth, latitude, and temperature and explain how these work together to
make seasons.
Go to the Seasons Interactive:
http://sepuplhs.org/middle/iaes/students/simulations/sepup_seasons5.html
On the Introduction page, fill out the following information:
Define the following:
• Equator
• Latitude
• Tropic of Cancer
• Tropic of Capricorn
Fill in the latitudes of some other locations: Circle if this location is in
the Northern, Southern Hemisphere, or close to the Equator.
North Pole:
Northern
Southern
Equator
South Pole:
Northern
Southern
Equator
Chicago, Illinois:
Northern
Southern
Equator
Anchorage, Alaska:
Northern
Southern
Equator
Quito Ecuador:
Northern
Southern
Equator
Melbourne, Australia:
Northern
Southern
Equator
Continue to the Interactive page, fill out the following information:
Part 1: Distance from the Sun
Record the distance (in km) of the Earth from the sun in each of the months.
January:
July:
February:
August:
March:
September:
April:
October:
May:
November:
June:
December:
*Circle the month(s) when the Earth is the farthest from the sun. Put a square
around the month(s) when the Earth is closest to the sun.
Analysis and Conclusion:
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgq0LThW7QA
At 1:20 in the video, the Bison incorrectly tries to explain why we have
seasons based on Earth’s distance from the sun.
What was his CLAIM?
Why is his claim incorrect? Use data from the video and your table above.
Stay on the Interactive page, fill out the following information:
Part 2: Temperatures
Fill in the data table below with the temperatures of the locations for each season.
Location
Temp
Summer
(June)
Temp Fall
(September)
Temp Winter
(December)
Temp Spring
(March)
Chicago,
Illinois
Anchorage,
Alaska
Quito,
Ecuador
Melbourne,
Australia
1. What two factors affect the temperature in each location?
_________________________________ AND ______________________________
Part 3: Earth’s Tilt
Click to show Tropics/Equator
1. What is the angle of Earth’s tilt?
2. Click to go through the months. Does the tilt of the Earth change?
3. Observations: As you click through the months, observe the picture.
Answer each question below with: Equator, Northern Hemisphere,
Southern Hemisphere.
• In January, which receives the most direct sunlight? ___________________
• In July, which receives the most direct sunlight? ______________________
• In March (and September), which receives the most direct sunlight? ___________
4. Fill in the table below for each city. Click on each city to show its location on the
globe.
City
Month with longest daylight
hours
Month with shortest daylight
hours
Anchorage
Chicago
Quito
Melbourne
Watch this video to review how the tilt of the Earth affects the amount of
daylight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUsWUiVCq5U
5. Why do you think Quito, Equator has very little changes to the daylight hours
throughout the year?
6. In what month is the Northern Hemisphere most tilted toward the Sun?
7. In what month is the Northern Hemisphere most tilted away from the Sun?
8. Explain how the tilt of the Earth affects the seasons and daylight length.
Watch this video to help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgHmqv_-UbQ