Name: Hannah waters Class Period: 2

nd
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
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?
Its important because if we get to cold we could freeze and because our bodies are not use to
that kind of cold. Its also important because of the crops.
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: Equine is different from solstice
because it occurs when the sun is directly over the equator. Solstice occurs when the sun is
directly above 23.5N in summer and 23.5S in the winter.
2. How many of each do we have each year? We have 2 a year
Name them:
Solstices: Equinoxes:
a. June 21 a. march 21
b. December 20 b. 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 Hemispere tilted during mid-Spring and summer?
Toward the sun
3. How does this affect the amount of daylight we have during this time? Whenever the
northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun it gets longer hours of daylight and same for the
south hemisphere
4. During what time of year does the North Pole experience 24 hours of sunlight?
Mid-spring through mid-summer
South pole? Mid-autumn into mid-winter
Click on Our Orbit
5. Draw and label the Earths position in relation to the sun during each of the 4 seasons:














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?
Summer
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 reason we have seasons is because of the axis of earth tilting. We are also closer to the sun
in winter and farther away from the sun in summer. The reason we are farther away but still
warm on earth is because of the suns rays hit more directly during the summer than winter.

Number 5