The inclination of the axis of the Earth varies from 22° to 24° degrees taking ____ to complete a cycle. This is a factor in the Milankovitch hypothesis of ice ages.
A)24 hours
B)1 year
C)499 years
D)41,000 years
E)Wrong! The Earth's axis tilt is fixed at exactly 23.50 with no variation whatsoever.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The inclination of the Earth's axis varies from 22° to 24° degrees over a period of approximately 41,000 years, known as the axial precession. This variation in axial tilt is one of the three factors in the Milankovitch hypothesis of ice ages, which proposes that changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt affect the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, leading to periods of glaciation and interglaciation.

The Inclination of the Axis of the Earth Varies from 22°