When the northern hemisphere is experiencing winter, the
A) Earth is closer to the Sun than it is during northern summer.
B) Earth is farther from the Sun than it is during the northern summer.
C) Earth is the same distance from the Sun as it is the rest of the year because Earth's orbit is circular with the Sun in the center.
D) southern hemisphere is experiencing winter also.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

BThe Earth's orbit around the Sun is elliptical, not perfectly circular, which means its distance from the Sun varies throughout the year. However, the seasons are not directly caused by this variation in distance. Instead, they result from the tilt of Earth's axis. When the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, it experiences winter, while the southern hemisphere, being tilted towards the Sun, experiences summer. This means that during the northern winter, the Earth can be closer to the Sun (perihelion, around early January) or moving towards that point, contradicting the common misconception that distance from the Sun determines seasons.

When the Northern Hemisphere Is Experiencing Winter, the