🪐 Space and astronomy
Seasons and Earth's tilt
Move Earth around the Sun and see why seasons change.
💬 Questions and answers
1What am I looking at?
Answer: Earth orbiting the Sun with its axis tilted by 23.4°.
2What are its parts? (click a part to identify it)
Answer: Sun, Earth, tilted axis, the orbit and the solstice and equinox positions.
3How does it work?
Answer: The axis always points the same way in space. In June the Northern Hemisphere leans towards the Sun: rays fall more directly and days are longer, so it is summer there. In December it leans away.
4Why is it important?
Answer: It explains summer, winter, long and short days, and why seasons are reversed in Australia.
5What happens if I change something? (use the sliders)
Answer: Move the month slider or press play to watch a whole year.
6What should I remember for the exam?
Answer: Summer solstice 21 June (longest day in the north), winter solstice 22 December, equinoxes 21 March and 23 September (equal day and night). Distance from the Sun is not the cause.