EARTH’S MOTIONS LAB (Web Quest)
Created by Daniel Brownstein, Hastings High School, New York
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: What causes the seasons?
SCOS: 6.02
RBT: B-2
Use the provided web links for each section of the web quest
Reasons for the Seasons
http://www.brocktonpublicschools.com/schools/high/planetarium/activities/seasons/seas
ons3.html
1. Why does the Sun appear to move through the sky?
2. List three reasons why we have seasons (you will need to click on “next” on the
bottom of the page for the 2nd and 3rd reasons):
3. Go back to the first page of this website. Draw a picture of the Earth with a tilt. On
your diagram label the North and South Poles, the Equator, and the path of the Earth’s
orbit.
4. What is the tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to its orbit? ________________
5. Draw a picture of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun exactly as you see it in Dia # 3.
Include the following:
 The proper orientation of the tilt of the Earth.
 Mark on Earth for each position where the Sun is shining most directly.
 Number each position as shown.
 Draw and label the Tropic of Cancer, the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Equator.
6. Based on your drawing in number 5,
a) When is the Earth tilted towards the Sun (which position)?
__________________________________
b) When is the Earth tilted away from the Sun (which position)?
________________________________
c) For each numbered position, identify the season for the Northern Hemisphere
(remember that it is the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere).
Position 1________________________ Position 2__________________________
Position 3________________________ Position 4__________________________
Part 2: Open up the file entitled “length of day animation.”
http://www3.eboard.com/boards/16/92/94/Brownstein/att1573310/LengthofDay%5B1%5D.swf
Maximize the screen (on an Apple, drag the window from the bottom corner to the edge
of the screen)
Sunrise
Hastings
Winter:
1. In the bottom left corner, click on the month for December. Using the arrows
advance the days and watch the animation in the upper left that shows the Earth
revolving around the Sun. Advance the days until the Earth is lined up exactly between
the Sun and the word “winter” (the horizontal line extending from the Sun to “winter”
should bisect the Earth exactly in half).
a) On what day does the Earth line up with that position?_______________
b) Our latitude is 36 degrees N. What time does the Sun rise__________ and set
__________?
c) Based on your answer to 1b, approximately how many hours of daylight do we have
in North Carolina? __________________
d) Above which latitude will the Sun never rise on this date? ______________
Spring:
2. Click on March. Advance the days until the Earth is directly lined up with the Sun
and the line extending from “spring” to the Sun.
a) On what day does the Earth line up with that position?_______________
b) Our latitude is 36 degrees N. What time does the Sun rise__________ and set
__________?
c) Based on your answer to 2b, approximately how many hours of daylight do we have
in our part of North Carolina? __________________
Summer:
3. Click on June. Advance the days until the Earth is directly lined up with the Sun and
the line extending from “summer” to the Sun.
a) On what day does the Earth line up with that position?_______________
b) Our latitude is 36°N. What time does the Sun rise__________ and set
__________?
c) Based on your answer to 3b, approximately how many hours of daylight do we have
in our part of
North Carolina? __________________
Fall:
4. Click on September. Advance the days until the Earth is directly lined up with the
Sun and the line extending from “fall” to the Sun.
a) On what day does the Earth line up with that position?_______________
b) Our latitude is 36 degrees N. What time does the Sun rise__________ and set
__________?
c) Based on your answer to 3b, approximately how many hours of daylight do we have
in
North Carolina? __________________
Follow up questions:
1. During which season in our community do we have the most
sunlight?____________________
2. Why are fall and spring called equinoxes?
3. Explain how the tilt of the Earth influences the amount of daylight that we receive
throughout the year: