Name: Anthony Medeiros Class Period 1

st
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?
______ It is important to how warm we feel because if we are always cold then we will never
feel like doing anything and we wont get up and get food so we all will just die. We receive less
energy in the winter than in the summer.
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: An equinox is when the day and
night both last 12 hours at all latitudes. A solstice is when the northern or southern hemisphere
is pointed towards the sun and that hemisphere receives sunlight for about 24 hours making it
the longest day of the year and so that the other hemisphere receives little to no sunlight making
it the shortest day of the year.

2. How many of each do we have each year? _____2________
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? _____counter clockwise.
2. Click on Solstices
2. In which direction is the Northern Hemispere tilted during mid-Spring and summer?
_______________ Towards the sun.
3. How does this effect the amount of daylight we have during this time?
__________________It gives the Northern hemisphere more hours of sunlight.
4. During what time of year does the North Pole experience 24 hours of sunlight?
___________________ Around June 21
st
.
South pole? ____________________ Around December 21
st
.
Click on Our Orbit
5. Draw and label the Earths position in relation to the sun during each of the 4 seasons:





http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/the-four-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) In summer the northern
hemisphere receives more concentrated energy from the sun.
_
2. During what season (time of year) does the Sun have to travel through more atmosphere?
__________ During winter is when the sun has to travel through more atmosphere.
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 are not caused by being closer or farther away from the sun. They are caused by the
tilt of the earth causing the sun to shine more directly at the northern hemisphere or the southern
hemisphere. This is what creates seasons. Imagine shining a flashlight at the earth. In the summer
that flash light will be more directed at the earth thus creating summer. Each season starts with a
equinox or a solstice. Solstices start the beginning of winter and summer and equinoxes mark the
beginning of fall and spring. Just remember that the tilt of the earth causes season, not the distance
the earth is from the sun.