Imagine some cosmic catastrophe jolts Earth so that its axis is perpendicular to the orbital plane between Earth and the sun. The most obvious effect of this change would be
A) the elimination of tides.
B) an increase in the length of night.
C) an increase in the length of a year.
D) a decrease in temperature at the equator.
E) the elimination of seasonal variation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

With Earth's axis perpendicular to its orbital plane, the distribution of sunlight would remain constant throughout the year, eliminating the primary cause of seasonal changes. This is because the tilt of Earth's axis is responsible for the varying angles at which sunlight hits different parts of the Earth during its orbit, leading to seasons.

Imagine Some Cosmic Catastrophe Jolts Earth So That Its Axis