23 1/2oon its axis. This means that during the Northernhemispheresummer the North
pole points toward the Sun, and in the Northern hemisphere winter the North Pole is tilted
away from the Sun (Figure24.11). The season we experience depends on where the Earth
is in its revolutionary orbit around the Sun.
Figure 24.11: The Earth tilts on its axis. ( 4 )Lesson Summary
- Earth rotates or spins on its axis once each day and revolves around the Sun once every
year. - The tilt of Earth’s axis produces seasons.
Review Questions
- Describe the difference between Earth’s rotation and its revolution.
- What is the force that keeps the Earth and other planets in their orbital paths?
- The planet Jupiter is about 778,570,000 kilometers from the Sun; Earth is about
150,000,000 kilometers from the Sun. Does Jupiter take more or less time to make
one revolution around the sun? Explain your answer. - In its elliptical orbit around the Sun, the Earth is closest to the Sun in January. Even
though Earth is closest to the Sun in January, people in the Northern hemisphere
experience winter weather. Using your understanding of how the Earth is tilted on its
axis, why do you think people in the Northern Hemisphere have winter in January? - Where on Earth would Foucault’s pendulum appear to not be moving? Why?