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Why Do We Have Seasons?

Learn why light is essential for seeing and how our eyes transform light into vision. Perfect for young scientists eager to understand the world through fun, engaging content.

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February 26, 2025
3:26 listen
Fizz, Pop, Wow!

The Earth's 23.5-degree tilt—not its distance from the sun—creates our four seasons! As our planet orbits the sun, different hemispheres receive more direct sunlight at different times of year, creating summer when your part of Earth tilts toward the sun and winter when it tilts away.

Why Do We Have Seasons?

Ever noticed how one part of the year is super hot, and a few months later it’s chilly or even snowy? That’s because of seasons! But no, it’s not because Earth is closer to the sun. It’s actually all about the tilt of the Earth.

It’s All About the Tilt!

Earth is always traveling around the sun—it takes one full year to go all the way around. But here’s the key: Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees. Imagine a spinning top leaning to one side. That’s Earth! Because of this tilt, sometimes the northern hemisphere leans toward the sun, and sometimes it leans away. When your part of Earth leans toward the sun, you get summer—longer days, more sunlight, and warmer weather. When it leans away, it’s winter—shorter days, less sunlight, and colder temperatures. Spring and fall happen in between!

Seasons Flip Around the World

Here’s something cool—when it’s summer in one part of the world, it’s winter on the other side! That’s because Earth’s tilt affects different places at different times.

Try It: Seasons with a Flashlight

See how Earth’s tilt affects sunlight!

Try It: Seasons with a Flashlight

Materials Needed:

  • A globe or ball
  • Flashlight

Steps to Follow:

  1. Tilt the ball slightly—this is Earth’s tilt.
  2. Turn on the flashlight—it’s the sun!
  3. Move the tilted ball around the flashlight in a circle—this is Earth orbiting the sun.
  4. Watch how different parts of the ball get more or less light during the orbit. That’s how seasons happen!

Your Challenge

Look outside—what season do you think it is? What clues do you notice? Then try the flashlight experiment and see if you can model how sunlight changes with the seasons!

Your Challenge

Look outside—what season do you think it is? What clues do you notice? Then try the flashlight experiment and see if you can model how sunlight changes with the seasons!

Key Takeaways

  • Seasons happen because Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees—not because it’s closer or farther from the sun.
  • When your part of Earth leans toward the sun, it’s summer. When it leans away, it’s winter.
  • Spring and fall happen when neither hemisphere is tilted strongly toward the sun.
  • You can model Earth’s tilt and orbit with a flashlight and a ball to see how sunlight changes throughout the year.
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