Seasons
Safety Warnings
Warning: Heat Hazard
Purpose
Demonstrates that Earth's seasons result from its 23.5-degree axial tilt, not distance from the Sun. Students observe how the tilt causes varying solar angle and day length across hemispheres as Earth orbits.
Figure 1:
The globe and light source setup demonstrates how Earth's axial tilt affects the distribution of solar radiation across hemispheres throughout the orbital cycle.
Figure 2:
Multiple views of the globe illustrating different orbital positions and the corresponding variations in solar illumination patterns across Earth's surface.
Figure 3:
Additional orbital positions demonstrating how the constant 23.5° axial tilt causes different hemispheres to receive more direct sunlight at different times of year.
Equipment
- 1