Physics

1. In the Northern Hemisphere, why are summers warmer than winters, even though Earth is actually closer to the sun in January? Nearness to the sun is only a small part of the story. Seasons are regulated by the amount of solar energy received at Earth’s Surface. Amount of energy is determined by the angle at which sunlight strikes the surface. Solar energy that strikes earths surface perpendiculary (directly) is much more intense than solar energy that strikes the same surface at an angle. Also during the Month of Jan the northern hemisphere is facing away from the sun.

2. What are the main factors that determine seasonal temperature variations? Suns angle. High sun creates more heat, low sun creates less heat. The length of time the sun shines in a day.

3. During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, the daylight hours in northern latitudes are longer than in middle latitudes. Explain why northern latitudes are not warmer? (June), and away from the sun in winter (December). As Earth revolves about the sun, it is tilted on its axis by an angle of . Earth’s axis always points to the same area in space (as viewed from a distant star). Thus, in June, when the Northern Hemisphere is tipped toward the sun, more direct sunlight and long hours of daylight cause warmer weather than in December, when the Northern Hemisphere is tipped away from the sun.

4. If it is winter and January in New York City, what is the season in Sydney, Australia? Summer

5. Explain why Southern Hemisphere summers are not warmer on average than Northern Hemisphere summers, even though Earth is closer to the sun in January than in July. Body of the ocean absorbs most of the heat

6. Explain why the vegetation on the north-facing side of a hill is frequently different from the vegetation on the south-facing side of the same hill. Hills that face south receive more sunshine and, hence, become warmer than the partially shielded north-facing hills. Higher temperatures...