Why do we have different seasons? (8th grader response)
We have different seasons because of the Earth's tilt and its orbit around the sun. The Earth is tilted on its axis at about 23.5 degrees. This means that as it moves around the sun, different parts of the Earth receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
During summer, the hemisphere tilted towards the sun receives more direct sunlight because the sun's rays hit it more directly. This leads to longer days and shorter nights, and a higher amount of solar energy reaching the surface, making it warmer.
In winter, the situation is reversed. The hemisphere tilted away from the sun receives less direct sunlight because the sun's rays are spread out over a larger area. This results in shorter days and longer nights, and less solar energy reaching the surface, making it colder.
In spring and autumn, the Earth is at a position where neither hemisphere is tilted towards or away from the sun. This leads to equal daylight and night time, and more moderate temperatures.
So, the Earth's tilt and its orbit around the sun cause different seasons throughout the year.