Seasons on Earth
Environmental Science
Name: ___________________________________________ Period: _________ Date: _______________
Essential Question: How do Earth’s tilt influence the seasons?
23.5 degrees tilt
Clarifying Questions:
1. Describe how the Earth is tilted.
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2. What causes the seasons on Earth?
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3. Describe the tilt of the Earth when it is winter in the United States. Remember: United States is in the
Northern hemisphere.
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4. Describe the tilt of the Earth when it is summer in Australia. Remember: Australia is in the Southern
hemisphere.
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5. Why is there no winter on countries near the equator?
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6. How do you compare the seasons in the Northern and Southern hemispheres?
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Seasons in the Northern Hemisphere
Nearest to the Sun
(Perihelion)
Farthest from the Sun
(Aphelion)
Clarifying Questions:
7. When do the shorter days in the United States begin and end?
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8. When do the longer days in the United States begin and end?
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9. When are days and nights equal in the United States? State the dates.
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10. What does it mean by equinox and when does it happen?
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11. What does it mean by solstice and when does it happen?
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12. Describe the seasons in the Unites States during perihelion and aphelion. Does Earth’s distance from
the Sun affect our seasons?
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13. Write the starting dates for the following:
a. Winter Solstice
b. Vernal Equinox
c. Summer Solstice
d. Autumnal Equinox
Date
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