Name: Elizabeth Mclean Class Period: 2

nd
period honors Date: 9/11/14

SEASONS WEBQUEST
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
2. 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?
The energy isnt any different, The way it is striking makes the amount of energy we
receive.
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, all parts of the earth get the same number of hours in the daylight. A
solstice is when the tilt of the Earths axis is oriented directly towards towards or away
from the sun.
2. How many of each do we have each year? Two
Name them:
Solstices: Equinoxes:
a. winter solstice a. Vernal Equinox
b. summer solstice b. Autumnal Equinox

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 Hemispere tilted during mid-Spring and summer?
It is tilted towards the sun.
3. How does this effect the amount of daylight we have during this time?
It gives us longer hours of daylight.
4. During what time of year does the North Pole experience 24 hours of sunlight?
Around the time of the summer solstice.

South pole? Around the time of the Winter Solstice.
Click on Our Orbit
5. Draw and label the Earths position in relation to the sun during each of the 4 seasons:


http://www.sciencebuddies.org/Files/3792/5/Astro_img104.jpg
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)
During the 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 5
th
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 dont come from the closeness of the sun. It has to do with the Earths tilt. In the
summer, it is actually farthest away from the sun. In the winter its closest.