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Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress
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Question:
Why is it hot in summer and cold in winter?
Answer:
Because the earth's axis is tilted.
It is all about the tilt of the Earth's axis. Many people believe that the tempe
rature changes because the Earth is closer to the sun in summer and farther from
the sun in winter. In fact, the Earth is farthest from the sun in July and is c
losest to the sun in January!
During the summer, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a steep angle. The light does
not spread out as much, thus increasing the amount of energy hitting any given
spot. Also, the long daylight hours allow the Earth plenty of time to reach warm
temperatures.
During the winter, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle. These rays a
re more spread out, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spo
t. Also, the long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up. Thus,
we have winter!
Standard DisclaimerRelated Web Sites
What causes the Seasons- From the Windows to the Universe Web site, "What ca
uses the seasons" is explained using different learning levels (beginner, interm
ediate, and advanced). There are hyperlinks (bold underlined words) within the t
ext that direct you to other related pages on the topic of seasons.
Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground - This Web site is part of The Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory's Using Science and the Internet as Everyday Classroo
m tools. It contains a collection of children's online astronomy activities. You
can read chapters on the Earth's rotation or orbit by going to the Table of Con
tents link at the bottom of the page.
Earth's Seasons Equinoxes, Solstices, Perihelion, and Aphelion 1992-2020 - T
he United States Naval Observatory Website provides a list of the starting dates
of the seasons through 2020. Also see The Seasons and the Earth's Orbit.
NASA Planetary Seasons: Every planet in our solar system has seasons.
Library of Congress Web SiteFurther Reading
Asimov, Isaac. Isaac Asimov s guide to earth and space. New York, Random House
. 1991. 285 p. (Questions and Answers).
Campbell, Ann-Jeanette. The New York Public Library incredible Earth: a book
of answers for kids. New York, Wiley, c.1996. 186 p.
Gutsch, William A. Jr. 1001 Things everyone should know about the universe.
New York, Doubleday,1998. 353 p.
Thompson, Luke. Earth. New York, PowerKids Press, 2001. 24 p. (Juvenile).
Pasachoff, Jay. Astronomy: from the earth to the universe, 6th edition. Unit
ed States, Brooks/ Cole- Thompson Learning, c. 2002. 1v. various
SearchFor more print resources...
Search on "astronomy," "earth," "seasons," "summer," "summer solstice," "weather

," "winter," or "winter solstice. in the Library of Congress Online Catalog.


Image: summer scene Summer
More hours of sun / daylight
The sun s rays come in at a steeper angle, with fewer layers of atmosphere to filt
er through.
Image: winter scene Winter
Fewer hours of sun / daylight
The sun s rays come in at a shallow angle with more atmosphere to filter through.

Photo: hills and buildings covered in snow.


Winter in Yellowstone National Park. From the National Park Service Web site..
Photo: trees with vivid red and gold leaves.
Fall colors at Blueberry Ridge, near the Weather Service office in Marquette, MI
. From the National Weather Service Website.
Photo: young girl posing in the sand on the beach.
"It's fun at Long Beach, Aug. 9, 1919." From Prints & Photographs Division, Libr
ary of Congress.
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January 21, 2011
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