======Earth's Tile and the Seasons======


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**Alternative titles:** Orbit and Day Length Simulator
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Darken the classroom and place a lamp without a shade at the center to represent the Sun.  
  - Position a globe about 1 meter away from the lamp, with its axis tilted at 23.5° and fixed in direction.  
  - Identify the North Star direction (to maintain correct tilt orientation throughout).  
  - Slowly move the globe in a circle around the lamp to simulate Earth’s orbit.  
  - At several orbital positions (solstices and equinoxes), observe which hemisphere tilts toward or away from the Sun.  
  - Record observations about the angle of sunlight, intensity of illumination, and relative day/night lengths at different latitudes.  
  - Compare results for northern and southern hemispheres.



====Links==== 
How the Earth’s Tilt Causes Seasons | Day and Night Explained with Simple Science Models! - Ms Shelley's Science Show: 
{{youtube>8Gx4yXzOvzY?}}\\

📄 Modeling the Seasons - Exploratorium: [[https://cleanet.org/resources/55938.html]]\\

📄 Seasons: Skydome - Institute of Physics: [[https://spark.iop.org/seasons-skydome]]\\


====Variations====
  * Use a thermometer or light sensor to measure differences in light intensity at different tilt angles.  
  * Have each student use a smaller handheld globe to follow along with the orbit.  
  * Compare Earth with a hypothetical planet with no axial tilt.  
  * Extend to show how polar regions experience 24-hour daylight or night at solstices.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use a low-heat bulb or LED lamp to avoid burns.  
  * Ensure the lamp is stable to prevent tipping.  
  * Darkened rooms may increase trip hazards; arrange equipment with clear paths.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why do northern and southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons at the same time? (Because Earth’s tilt causes one hemisphere to lean toward the Sun while the other leans away.)  
  * Why are days longer in summer and shorter in winter? (The tilt changes how long the Sun stays above the horizon.)  
  * Why is summer warmer than winter? (Sunlight strikes the ground more directly and for a longer time each day.)  
  * What would happen if Earth had no tilt? (There would be no seasonal changes, only variation from equator to poles.)  
  * Why does this activity require pointing Earth’s axis toward the North Star? (To keep the tilt direction constant during the orbit, as it is in reality.)