Name: ________________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____________
Station 6: What Causes the Seasons?
Learning Standard ES2A: I can explain the reason for the seasons.
Directions: follow the procedures as stated in the investigation. Use the table below to keep
track of your data as you collect it. Use the graph paper to create a graph with all your data
presented.
Part A
1. Start at one of the seasons around the room
2. Use the laser thermometer to find the temperatures on the globe. Use the black tape
as your temperature measuring locations.
3. Record the temperature and the degrees of latitude north to south. Record this
information in the table below.
4. Do this for each season.
5. When you are done graph in one graph the temperatures on the planet.
Season
75
N
60
N
45N
30N
15N
0
15S
equator
30S
45S
60S
75S
Part B
2. Using the data above, explain why it is warmer at the equator than the poles:
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Name: ________________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____________
3. Why is the United States Warmer during the summer than in the winter?
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4. What pattern do you see in the data you collected?
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5. How does this pattern relate to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
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Part C
Direction of Axis
Temperature in Celsius
New York, NY
Temp
Bogota, Columbia
Temp
Temperature w/ axis
facing toward the sun
Temperature w/ axis
facing away from the sun
6. What is the difference between temperatures of each city when the North Pole was
facing toward the Sun versus when the North Pole was facing away from the Sun?
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Name: ________________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____________
7. Explain what caused this difference in temperature.
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8. What patterns do you see when comparing your data tables?
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9. How does this model of the Earth and Sun relate to Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
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10. What is the reason for the seasons?
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