echoesof.science · Ages 10–11
Day, night and the reasons for the seasons
Name: Date:
Scan to open the experiment,
the game and the quiz
echoesof.science/school/day-night-seasons/ages-10-11/
Read
The Earth spins on its axis, an imaginary line through the North and South Poles. One complete turn takes about 24 hours (23.9 hours, to be exact). The half facing the Sun has day; the other half has night.
At the same time, the Earth orbits the Sun. One orbit takes 365.25 days. Because of that extra quarter day, we add a leap day every four years.
Earth's axis is tilted by about 23.4°. In June the northern half of the Earth leans towards the Sun and has summer; in December the southern half leans towards the Sun and the north has winter.
Experiment: Fair test: straight or slanted sunlight?
- Put the squared paper on the table. Hold the torch exactly 20 cm above it, pointing straight down (90°).
- Draw around the patch of light and count the squares inside it.
- Now tilt the torch so it shines at 45° to the paper, keeping the front of the torch 20 cm from the middle of the patch. Draw around the patch and count the squares.
- Repeat at 30°.
- Keep the same torch, the same distance and the same paper each time: only the angle changes.
- Which patch looks brightest? Which is biggest?
| Angle of the torch | Squares lit | How bright? (1–5) |
|---|---|---|
| 90° (straight down) | I think the patch will be biggest at … because … | |
| 45° | I think the patch will be biggest at … because … | |
| 30° | I think the patch will be biggest at … because … |
Questions
Explain why we have day and night.
Give two reasons why summer is warmer than winter.
A friend says: 'It is summer because the Earth is closer to the Sun.' Use evidence to explain why they are wrong.
In your torch experiment, what did you change, what did you keep the same, and what did you find?
Sources for every fact on this sheet: echoesof.science/school/day-night-seasons/sources/