Name: Jordan Sullivan
Class Period 1st Period
SEASONS WEBQUEST
Data September 11, 2014
Click on the following link to answer the following questions:
http://www.astronomy.org/programs/seasons/
1. During which season is the earth closest to the sun, summer or winter? Winter
Scroll down to the Direct Energy vs. Indirect Energy picture of the flashlights.
2. Direct energy always produces short shadows while indirect energy creates long shadows.
3. Why is this important to how warm we feel?
Although the energy isn’t any different, because of the way the energy is striking, it causes an
effect on the amount of energy and how we feel.
Click on the following link to answer more questions.
http://vortex.plymouth.edu/sun/sun.html
Click on Why are there seasons?
1. Explain the difference between an equinox and a solstice:
During an equinox, sunlight strikes more directly towards Earth. During a solstice, sunlight
is orientated directly away from Earth. This causes an equinox to have longer days, and a
solstice to have shorter days.
2. How many of each do we have each year? 2
Name them:
Solstices:
Equinoxes:
a. Winter- December 21
a. Vernal- March 21
b. Summer-June 21
b. Autumnal- September 21
Click on Rotation
1. In which direction does the Earth spin on its axis? Counterclockwise
Click on Solstices
2. In which direction is the Northern Hemisphere tilted during mid-Spring and summer?
towards the sun
3. How does this effect the amount of daylight we have during this time?
Gives the Northern Hemisphere longer hours of sunlight
4. During what time of year does the North Pole experience 24 hours of sunlight?
From mid-spring to mid-summer
South pole? From mid-autumn to mid-winter
Click on Our Orbit
5. Draw and label the Earth’s position in relation to the sun during each of the 4 seasons:
http://www.physast.uga.edu/~rls/astro1020/ch1/seasons-on-earth.gif
Click on Temperatures
1. During what season does the Northern Hemisphere receive more concentrated energy
from the sun? (look at the flashlight example for a clue)
Summer
2. During what season (time of year) does the Sun have to travel through more atmosphere?
Winter
If you were having to explain the reasons for the seasons to a 5th grader who is convinced that
seasons come from being closer or further away from the Sun explain how you would do it
below: (Include at least 3 things you learned from these sites!)
The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth’s axis. As Earth moves in an almost circle
around the Sun, there is a slight 23.5 degree tilt happening. Summer is warmer than winter
because the Sun’s rays hit Earth at a more direct angle. While it may be a cold winter or a hot
summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing the
opposites. Therefore, winter days are shorter and summer days are longer. The seasons are not
a result of the Sun being closer or further away from us. Actually, the Earth is closest to the sun
on January 3rd, and the Earth is farthest away to the sun on July 4th.