Review for 7th Grade Benchmark #1: Open Ended questions

• The Earth's orbit is close to circular; therefore the Earth is not significantly closer to or farther from the Sun at any time.
• The tilt of the Earth causes us to have seasons.
• Because the US is facing away from the Sun in December, the Sun's position in the sky is lower.
• When the Sun in the sky is lower (winter), the angle of incidence of sunglight is smaller - spreading out the energy over a larger area.  Also, long days and short nights prevent the Earth from warming up in the winter.
• The higher the Sun in the sky, the shorter the length of the shadow.  The lower the Sun in the sky, the longer the length of the shadow.
• The Sun's angle changes because the Earth is tilted on its axis.  As the Earth revolves around the Sun the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun in the summer, and in the winter is tilted away from the Sun.
• When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun (summer), the angle of the Sun is greater.
• When the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun (winter), the angle of the Sun is smaller.