once around the sun the story of the seasons a windshadow production
TRANSCRIPT
Once Around the SunThe Story of the Seasons
A WindShadow Production
The Earth orbits around the sun once every 365 days.
An orbit is the path that a planet follows around the sun.
The Science
We also keep track of how many times we go around the sun. One
complete trip is a revolution.
one revolution
equator
axis
Because the Earth is tilted on its axis we
have seasons.
The sun is so far away the rays that hit the Earth are
parallel.
equator
axis
The Earth tilts on its axis.
So that different parts of the Earth receive the Sun’s rays at different
angles.
The parts of the Earth that receive the more direct rays are warmer.
Summer
Winter
The parts of the Earth that receive the more
indirect rays are cooler.
We will start our seasons here. It is the Vernal Equinox, March 20 or
21. The start of spring.
.
After the Earth has traveled 1/4 of the way
around its orbit we have a change of season.
.
Summer Solstice
summer
It is the Summer Solstice, June 21 or 22,
the longest day of the year and the shortest night.
Summer begins.
.
Summer Solstice
summer
.
Summer Solstice
summer
equator
axis
The Earth’s axis is tilting towards the sun and the
Northern Hemisphere starts to get warmer.
warmer
colder
After the Earth has traveled 2/4 or halfway
around its orbit we have another change of season.
.
Autumnal Equinox
autumn
The Autumnal Equinox occurs on September 22 or 23,
day and night are of equal length. Autumn begins.
.
Autumnal Equinox
autumn
The Earth’s axis is tilting so that the Northern and Southern
Hemisphere receive equal amounts of the sun’s rays.
.
Autumnal Equinox
autumn
equator
axis
..
.
.
..
..
..
.
..
.
.. ..
After the Earth has traveled 3/4 of the way around one revolution
we have a third change of season.
.
Winter Solstice
winter
The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and
the longest night, occurs on December 21 or 22.
Winter begins.
.
Winter Solstice
winter
The Earth’s axis tilts the Northern Hemisphere away from the direct
rays from the sun so it receives less energy.
.
Winter Solstice
equator
axis
winter
summer
winter
After the Earth has traveled for one complete revolution around
the sun we are back where we began.
Vernal Equinox
.
spring
It is the Vernal Equinox, day and night are equal in length.
Spring begins, again.
Vernal Equinox
.
spring
equator
The tilt of the Earth is
the reason for the seasons.
summerspring
autumnwinter
Choose the words that belong in the sentence.In a 365 day period, the Earth completes one in its .
a. rotation, axisb. rotation, orbitc. revolution, axisd. revolution, orbit
equator
axis
Look at the illustration below.
What season is the location the arrow is pointing to on the Earth experiencing?a. springb. winterc. autumnd. summer
equator
axis
What season is the location the arrow is pointing to on the Earth experiencing?a. springb. winterc. autumnd. summer
Look at the illustration below.
The Mathorbit geometry
What geometric shape is the orbit?
Art - oval
Math – ellipse
The Mathorbit geometry
What geometric shape is the sun and Earth?
Math – sphere
The Mathseasons’ time
How long is one revolution?
Math – 365 days – 12 months – 1 year
The Mathseasons’ time
How long is one season?
Math – ~91 days – 3 months – ¼ year
The Mathgeometry
How would we describe the sun’s rays?
Math – parallel
How would we describe the angle made by the equator and the axis?
Math – perpendicular, intersecting, 90 degrees
equator
axis
The Mathequator
axis
geometry
What is the geometric name for the equator?
Math – circle
What would we call it if it just went through the center of the Earth?
Math – line segment - diameter