How does the rotation of the earth around the axis bring about changes

In summary, the rotation of the Earth around its axis is what brings about changes in the climate and the four seasons. This is caused by the Earth's tilt to the ecliptic, which results in different angles of the sun's rays hitting the Earth's surface and shorter or longer days. However, the distance from the sun does not play a role in seasonal changes. This is why countries at the equator do not experience seasonal changes, as the sun's angle and daylight hours remain fairly constant throughout the year.
  • #1
alchemist
50
0
how does the rotation of the Earth around the axis bring about changes in the climate resulting in the 4 seasons? and why do the countries at the equator not experience seasonel changes?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
Climates occur because the Earth is tilted. As it circles the sun the top or bottom becomes closer or further. The equator stays the same.
 
  • #3
The Earth's tilt to the eciliptic is the cause, but distance has nothing to do with it. (During the Northern Winter, the Earth is actually closer to the Sun due to the shape of its orbit.

What happens is that because of the tilt, during winter, the Sun's light strikes the ground at a lower angle and the same amount of heating is spread over a larger area. Also, It means that a smaller percentage of the Winter hemisphere is in sunlight, which shortens the time of daylight. This effect increases the further you get from the Equator.

At the Equator the sun moves from 23° South fo vertical to 23° North of vertical. So the heating and the length of daylight remain fairly constant over the course of a year.
 
  • #4
It actually has nothing to do with the distance of each hemisphere from the sun; rather it's the angling and length of day. When your hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, you have a longer daytime and feel the sun's rays more 'head-on.' When you're tilted away, daytime is shorter and you feel the sun's rays more obliquely.

At the equator, days are always 12 hours, and the sun shines from the same angle: it is in the north during northern-hemisphere summer, and in the south during southern-hemisphere summer, but always at the sama angle.
 

1. How does the rotation of the earth affect day and night?

The rotation of the earth around its axis causes day and night. As the earth rotates, different parts of the planet are exposed to the sun's light, creating day and night cycles. This rotation means that the sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west, giving us the appearance of the sun moving across the sky.

2. What causes the seasons on Earth?

The tilt of the earth's axis is responsible for the changing seasons. As the earth orbits around the sun, the tilt of its axis causes different parts of the planet to be tilted towards or away from the sun at different times of the year. This tilt affects the amount of sunlight and heat that reaches different parts of the earth, creating the four seasons.

3. How does the rotation of the earth affect the winds and ocean currents?

The rotation of the earth plays a crucial role in the formation of winds and ocean currents. As the earth rotates, air and water are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect. This deflection creates wind patterns and ocean currents that help distribute heat and moisture around the planet.

4. Does the rotation of the earth affect gravity?

Yes, the rotation of the earth does affect gravity. The centripetal force created by the earth's rotation causes the planet to bulge slightly at the equator, making it farther away from the center of the earth. This leads to a slightly weaker gravitational pull at the equator compared to the poles. However, this difference is very small and does not significantly affect our daily lives.

5. How does the rotation of the earth impact the length of a day?

The rotation of the earth is what determines the length of a day. As the earth rotates, it completes one full rotation in approximately 24 hours, giving us a 24-hour day. However, due to factors such as the moon's gravitational pull and the earth's own rotation slowing down over time, the length of a day has changed throughout history and continues to change by a fraction of a second each year.

Similar threads

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
27
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
2
Replies
48
Views
989
  • Classical Physics
Replies
7
Views
774
  • Earth Sciences
Replies
1
Views
674
Replies
1
Views
432
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
191
Back
Top