Orbits, Seasons, and Ice Ages – Report Sheet
Name: __________________________________
Date: _______________________
Questions: Answer each question in a complete and grammatically correct sentence.
1) Record your answers to the Procedure Steps 1,2 and 3 on Figure 1 above.
2) Identify the dates for the aphelion and perihelion in the spaces provided below.
Aphelion ______________________
Perihelion ____________________
3) Give the latitude for the location of the vertical ray of the sun as shown in
Diagram B: Orbit of Earth (shown in Introduction). Record below.
June 21 ______________
September 22 _______________
December 21 ______________
March 21 __________________
4) Figure 2 below shows varying angles of insolation, or incoming solar radiation,
which would be experienced during the winter months in the Northern
Hemisphere. Note that areas A, B, and C, which are equal size, receive varying
amounts of insolation depending on the angle of insolation.
Figure 2: Angles of Insolation in Northern Hemisphere in Winter
At which position (A, B, or C) shown in Figure 2 above, is the intensity of
insolation the greatest? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)
5) Why is the intensity of insolation the greatest at the position you names in your
answer to question 4? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)
6) Look at Diagram C: Changes in Earth’s Orbit and Tilt shown in the Introduction
to this lab. 11,500 years ago, an ice sheet covered much of the Northern
Hemisphere and consequently, the Northern Hemisphere was in an Ice Age.
What was the probable effect on temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere when
the Earth was closest in its orbit to the sun on June 21? (Answer in a COMPLETE
SENTENCE.)
7) Regarding your answer to question 6, what would the temperatures do to the snow
and ice when the Earth was in the position shown in Diagram C for 11,500 years
ago? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)
8) Regarding your answers to question 6 and 7, was the Earth going into or coming
out of Ice Age 11,500 years ago? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)
9) Record the number of hours of night on March 21 for the following locations.
00 latitude ______________________
400 N latitude ______________________
900 S latitude ______________________
10) What is meant by “land of the midnight sun”? Where, when and why could this
situation exist? NOTICE” this is three questions (1) where, (2) when, (3) why.
(Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE. If you aren’t sure, then maybe you
could Google it!!!)