Activity 4: Go the Distance
Objective: Relate the position of the Earth in its orbit to the distance of the Sun in the sky.
Directions: Study the concepts below. Analyze the Earth-Sun model and complete the table below.
The orbit in which Earth travels to complete one revolution around the Sun is not entirely in a perfect circle but elliptical in shape. Remember that a one-year Earth revolution takes 365.25 days. A year consists of 12 months. In 12 months, the Earth revolves on its orbit and since it is elliptical in shape, the distance between the Earth and Sun varies. Aphelion is the point at which Earth is farthest from the Sun. During this time, since the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences summer or warmer climate while the southern hemisphere which is tilted away from the sun receives less amount of sunlight resulting to a colder climate or winter. By contrast, Perihelion is the point at which Earth is closest to the Sun. The northern hemisphere at this time is tilted away from the Sun, thus it experiences winter or colder climate while southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun receiving direct heat.
Northern spring/ Southern fall
21. March
Equinox
Northern winter/ Southern summer
Perihelion 3. January
147 mill. km
Line of Solstice
21. June
21. December
Line of apsides
152 mill. km
Aphelion 3. July
23. September
shorturl.at/zCGNY
Northern summer/ Southern winter
Northern fall/ Southern spring
Aphelion (farthest from the Sun)
Climate (warmer/colder?) | Daytime (longer/shorter) | Month (June/January)
Perihelion (closest to the Sun)
Climate (warmer/colder?) | Daytime (longer/shorter) | Month (June/January)
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere