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When the nights are longer than the days, the season is winter.

Days and Seasons

The Sun and Earth’s movements create days and seasons. These changes affect weather, light, and temperature, shaping how people, plants, and animals live.

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Fascinating Fact:

Without Earth spinning, one day would last a year – bedtime would be very confusing!

In KS2 Science, pupils learn how Earth’s tilt and orbit cause days, nights, and seasons. These patterns explain why summer is warmer and days last longer than in winter.

Key Terms

Rotation: The spinning of Earth on its axis, causing day and night.
Orbit: The path Earth follows around the Sun, taking one year to complete.
Axis: An imaginary line through Earth’s poles, tilted to create seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Why do we have seasons on Earth?

We have seasons because Earth’s axis is tilted. As Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the planet receive more or less sunlight, creating seasonal changes.

How long does Earth take to orbit the Sun?

Earth takes about 365 days, or one year, to orbit the Sun. This journey creates the cycle of seasons we experience each year.

What causes day and night?

Day and night are caused by Earth rotating on its axis. When your part of Earth faces the Sun, it is day. When it turns away, it becomes night.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

What causes day and night?

The Sun moves around the Earth

The Moon comes out, causing night

The Earth orbits the Sun

The Earth rotates on its axis

The Earth rotates on its axis. When part of the Earth is facing away from the Sun, it is dark because it cannot receive any sunlight. As the Earth rotates, that part gradually turns to face the Sun (we call this moment 'sunrise') and it becomes day

2 .

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which pole is tilted towards the Sun?

The North pole

The South pole

Both poles are equidistant (an equal distance) from the Sun

Both poles are tilted away from the Sun

When the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun the South Pole is tilted away from it

3 .

On two days each year, the Earth receives equal amounts of daylight and darkness. What are these days called?

Rotation days

Seasons

Solstices

Equinoxes

In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring (vernal) equinox is around the 21st of March and the autumnal equinox is around the 21st of September

4 .

The Earth is divided into its northern and southern hemispheres by what?

Its axis

The Equator

The North and South Poles

Lines of longitude

The Equator is an imaginary line which goes around the Earth's middle

5 .

In which season are the nights much longer than the days?

Spring

Summer

Winter

Autumn

In summer the days are much longer than the nights. In autumn and spring the days and nights are roughly the same length

6 .

How long does it take the Earth to rotate once on its axis?

One day

One week

One month

One year

When our part of the Earth is pointing towards the Sun it is daytime and when we are pointing away from the Sun it is night

7 .

Why does the South Pole receive no sunlight during its winter?

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun

The Sun doesn't orbit the Earth in the winter

The Earth stops rotating in the winter

The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun

When the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, the South Pole is in darkness for 24 hours every day, while the North Pole (which is tilted towards the Sun at the same time) receives 24 hours of sunlight every day

8 .

How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun?

One day

One month

One year

One decade

When our part of the Earth is tilted towards the Sun it is summer and when we are tilted away from the Sun it is winter

9 .

Which of the following causes the seasons to change?

The Moon

The Earth's tilt on its axis

The Earth's rotation

Changing weather

The Earth's tilt on its axis means that as the Earth orbits the Sun, the amount of sunlight received by each hemisphere changes, causing the changing seasons. The equator, however, always receives 12 hours of sunlight each day and does not experience changing seasons (although it does experience changing weather)

10 .

If it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Day and night

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)