The sun is the main source of heat and the only star in our solar system, which, like a magnet, attracts all the planets, satellites, asteroids, comets and other "inhabitants" of space.

The distance from the Sun to the Earth is over 149 million kilometers. It is this distance of our planet from the Sun that is commonly called an astronomical unit.

Despite its significant distance, this star has a huge impact on our planet. Depending on the position of the Sun on Earth, day follows night, summer replaces winter, and magnetic storms and amazing auroras are formed. And most importantly, without the participation of the Sun on Earth, the process of photosynthesis, the main source of oxygen, would be impossible.

The position of the sun at different times of the year

Our planet moves around the celestial source of light and heat in a closed orbit. This path can be schematically represented as an elongated ellipse. The Sun itself is not located in the center of the ellipse, but somewhat to the side.

The Earth moves in and out of the Sun, completing a full orbit in 365 days. Our planet is closest to the sun in January. At this time, the distance is reduced to 147 million km. The point in the earth's orbit closest to the sun is called perihelion.

The closer the Earth is to the Sun, the more the South Pole is illuminated, and summer begins in the countries of the southern hemisphere.

Closer to July, our planet is as far away from main star solar system. During this period, the distance is more than 152 million km. The farthest point in the Earth's orbit from the Sun is called aphelion. The farther the globe is from the Sun, the more light and heat the countries of the northern hemisphere receive. Then summer comes here, and, for example, in Australia and South America, winter dominates.

How the Sun illuminates the Earth at different times of the year

The illumination of the Earth by the Sun at different times of the year directly depends on the remoteness of our planet in a given period of time and on which "side" the Earth is turned at that moment to the Sun.

The most important factor influencing the change of seasons is the earth's axis. Our planet, revolving around the Sun, has time to turn around its own imaginary axis at the same time. This axis is at an angle of 23.5 degrees to heavenly body and always turns out to be directed to the North Star. A full rotation around the earth's axis takes 24 hours. Axial rotation also provides a change of day and night.

By the way, if this deviation did not exist, then the seasons would not replace each other, but would remain constant. That is, somewhere a constant summer would reign, in other areas there would be a constant spring, a third of the earth would forever be watered with autumn rains.

Under the direct rays of the Sun on the days of the equinox is the earth's equator, while on the days of the solstice the sun at the zenith will be at latitudes of 23.5 degrees, gradually approaching zero latitude in the rest of the year, i.e. to the equator. The sun's rays falling vertically bring more light and heat, they do not dissipate in the atmosphere. Therefore, the inhabitants of countries located on the equator never know the cold.

poles the globe alternately exposed to the rays of the sun. Therefore, at the poles, day lasts half a year, and night lasts half a year. When it's illuminated North Pole, then spring comes in the northern hemisphere, replacing summer.

In the next six months, the picture changes. The South Pole is facing the Sun. Now summer is beginning in the southern hemisphere, and winter is setting in in the countries of the northern hemisphere.

Twice a year, our planet finds itself in a position where the sun's rays equally illuminate its surface from the Far North to the South Pole. These days are called the equinoxes. Spring is celebrated on March 21, autumn - September 23.

Two more days of the year are called solstices. At this time, the Sun is either as high as possible above the horizon, or as low as possible.

In the northern hemisphere, December 21 or 22 is the longest night of the year, the winter solstice. And on June 20 or 21, on the contrary, the day is the longest, and the night is the shortest - this is the day of the summer solstice. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true. There in December long days and June has long nights.

As a child, I noticed that during the year the sun's rays fall on the ground under different angles. The fact is that my room is located on the sunny side. So, in winter at lunchtime, streams of light penetrate far into the interior of the room, while in the summer at the same time they do not reach the middle of the room. Why does the Sun change the angle of illumination of the Earth with the change of seasons?

The reason for the unequal illumination of the Earth during the year

The reason is actually logical and simple. The Earth has its own axis around which it rotates. This axis is not vertical, it runs at an angle of 66.5 degrees to the orbital plane. That is why during the year the angle of incidence of sunlight on each point of the surface is not the same. As a result, at different times of the year, different hemispheres in one time period receive different amount Sveta.

This can also explain the fact that in temperate latitudes the seasons are pronounced, and at the equator they practically do not differ from each other.

Earth illumination belts

There are several main zones of illumination of the Earth:

As you can see, depending on the illumination of the sun's rays, as well as on the angle of their incidence, the duration of the day and night, the temperature amplitude, and, accordingly, the climate also depend.

The sun influences the Earth quite strongly. The sun emits light and, as the earth rotates on its own axis, day and night are obtained. Sunlight brings heat which, with the rotation of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis (by 23.5°), causes the seasons to change. Most of the light and heat comes from direct sunlight.

sunlight

The sun's rays can only illuminate one half of the earth's surface. Sunlight equally reaches the North and South Poles only twice a year - September 23 and March 21 - the days of the equinox (Figure 1). On these two days, the direct rays of the Sun fall vertically on the Equator.
From September 23 to December 21, the rays of the Sun gradually expand their zone of impact on the Earth from the South Pole and recede from the North Pole. On December 21, the rays reach 23.5° beyond the South Pole (Antarctic zone) and are unable to reach the North Pole by the same 23.5° (Arctic zone). On this day, the area south of the Antarctic Circle (Antarctica) receives constant sunlight, while the area north of the Arctic Circle (Arctic) remains without sunlight. Try to analyze it with a globe. Find on the globe the Antarctic and Arctic Circles (parallels in the Northern and Southern hemispheres with latitudes of 66.5 °).
On December 22, the rays of the Sun cover the entire zone up to the Antarctic Circle and leave the zone of the Arctic Circle by 23.5° (Figure 2). And on June 21, the opposite is true - the rays completely leave the area of the Antarctic Circle and illuminate the area of the Arctic Circle. Now the South Pole is in darkness, and the North Pole receives constant sunlight (Figure 3). This explains the semi-annual day and night at the North and South Poles.
When the light falls directly on the Tropic of the North (23.5° north of the Equator), the day in the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum longer than the night (June 21).
When the light falls directly on the Tropic of the South (23.5° south of the equator), the day in the Northern Hemisphere is as short as possible at night (December 22).

Question: Help please! 1. Formulate geographical implications rotation of the Earth: ??) around its axis; b) around the sun. 2. Why does the Sun illuminate the Earth differently during the year? 3. Do you think day is always equal to night at the equator? Does this happen at the poles? 4. Where on Earth is day always equal to night, and is the Sun at its zenith twice a year? 5. The highest position of the Sun on the horizon is called: a) zenith; b) the equator; c) tropical. 6. Complete the sentence:<<Угол падения солнечных лучей и высота Солнца на горизонтом уменьшаются,если...>>

Help me please! 1. Formulate the geographical consequences of the Earth's rotation: ??) around its axis; b) around the sun. 2. Why does the Sun illuminate the Earth differently during the year? 3. Do you think day is always equal to night at the equator? Does this happen at the poles? 4. Where on Earth is day always equal to night, and is the Sun at its zenith twice a year? 5. The highest position of the Sun on the horizon is called: a) zenith; b) the equator; c) tropical. 6. Complete the sentence:<<Угол падения солнечных лучей и высота Солнца на горизонтом уменьшаются,если...>> 7. Which statement is true? 1) The change of day and night is a consequence of the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of the orbit. 2) In the polar circles, the Sun is below the horizon for half a year. 3) At the time of the summer solstice, the rays of the Sun at noon fall vertically on the Tropic of the North. 4) Only twice a year Northern and south poles Earths are illuminated by the Sun in the same way.

Answers:

1. A. 2. Because the Earth rotates around its axis and the rays of the sun do not fall evenly. 3. Yes, always. Yes, sometimes. 4. I don't know. 5. A. 6. I don't know. 7.4.

Different illumination of the Earth by the Sun

When it comes to the fact that the Sun illuminates our planet in different ways, it means that in different parts of the Earth there are different air temperatures, and there is also a change of seasons.

In fact, the explanation for such phenomena is considered quite simple, and in order to understand the principles of "work", we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the information below.

Why does the Sun illuminate the Earth differently?

If we talk about why there are cold and warm zones on our planet, why the Sun's rays fall on the surface of our planet in different ways, then the main reason is two factors:

The earth has a spherical shape. If our planet were flat, all its parts would be equidistant from the rays of our natural star. Accordingly, in all parts of the planet, approximately the same temperature would be observed, and, most likely, the weather. However, the Earth is spherical, which means that some of its sections are located at somewhat more distant distances from our luminary. So, for example, a section of the equatorial zone of the planet Earth is always closest to the Sun. And, starting from it, both up and down, the surface of the planet begins to gradually move away from the star, which leads to the fact that the temperature there is lower.
The Earth, in relation to the Sun, is not in a completely vertical state. Our planet rotates at an angle with respect to the Sun, so its different parts are at different distances from our natural star. This also, of course, affects the different lighting and heating of the planet's surface.

Why is there winter and summer on planet Earth

As for why there is a change in the seasons on our planet, this phenomenon also has a fairly simple explanation. And it concerns precisely the fact that the Earth rotates around its axis at an angle with respect to the Sun. As you know, we also carry out rotational movements around the Sun. And in the aggregate, such movements, as well as our inclined position, lead to the fact that at different times of the year, different parts of our planet are closer to the Sun or further away from it. Thus, the seasons change, as well as the warming and cooling associated with seasonal changes.