Webquest: Path of the Sun and the Seasons
Background & Directions: We learned that the path of the sun changes in altitude (height) and duration (length) because the Earth revolves around the sun on a tilted axis. Now, use the websites to fill in the diagrams, charts, and answer the questions below.
Write your answers or mark the charts/diagrams directly on this page. When you have finished, turn this page in. You will have two class periods to work on this assignment in the computer lab.
All writing must be in your own words,
or you will not get credit for this assignment.
Questions, Charts, Diagrams:
1)Draw the Earth’s revolution around the sun during the four seasons in the box below. Include the sun and an axis for each Earth that you draw, as well as arrows to show the direction of Earth’s revolution. Be sure to label the diagram with the names of the seasons for the Northern Hemisphere and include the dates.
2)Fill out the chart below:
SeasonName / Date in the Northern Hemis-phere / Axis tilt
(towards, away,
neither towards nor away) / Length of Path Across the Sky
(longest, shortest, medium) / Duration of Daylight
(shortest daylight, longest daylight, 12 hours daylight) / Altitude of Sun at Noon
(highest, lowest, medium) / Intensity of Insolation
(highest, lowest,
medium)
3) Draw in a terminator—the dividing line between daylight and darkness—on the diagram below. Then, shade in the half of the Earth in darkness. Winter Solstice has already been done for you.
4) Using the diagram in # 3 and the websites, fill in the chart below for length of daylight, latitudes, and seasons.
Date / NORTH LATITUDE / SOUTH LATITUDE90° / 66½ / 23½ / 0° / 23½ / 66½ / 90°
Vernal Equinox
March 21
Summer Solstice June 21st
Autumnal Equinox
September 21st
Winter Solstice
December 21st
5) Using the information on the websites and in Questions 1-4 above, write your conclusions about the path of the sun, length of daylight, and the seasons. Use complete sentences. Include the key works earth’s revolution around the sun, North Pole, tilt of the axis, length of daylight, altitude of the sun, equinox(es), solstice(es) and include dates and names of seasons. Tell about where the sun is directly overhead using latitude names and measurements. Summer Solstice has been done for you. Fill in the blanks, and then follow the model to tell about Winter Solstice and the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes. (Hint: you can write one paragraph for the equinoxes).
In the Northern Hemisphere, summer occurs when the northern axis is tilted ______. On Summer Solstice, ______, the Northern Hemisphere receives the ______length of daylight and the sun reaches the ______altitude in the sky. The Sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer, ______. Everywhere between ______latitude and ______latitude receives ______hours of daylight. Everywhere between ______latitude and ______latitude receives ______hours of darkness.