Question

question 3 (1 point)
what causes most places on earth to have seasons?
earth is closer to the sun in the northern hemisphere summer and farther away in the northern hemisphere winter.
the spin axis changes with tilt, causing winter when the tilt is great and summer when the tilt is small.
there is more ice in winter, so it is colder, and less in summer, when it is warmer.
days are longer during summer than winter, so the extra sunshine causes it to be warmer in summer and less sunshine causes it to be colder in winter.
the spin axis is tilted 23.5 degrees to the plane of earths orbit, causing solar radiation to vary in angle as earth revolves around the sun.

Explanation:

The Earth's seasons are caused by the tilt of its spin axis ($23.5$ degrees) relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. As Earth revolves, this tilt causes solar radiation to vary in angle. In summer, a hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun (more direct sunlight, longer days), and in winter, it's tilted away (less direct sunlight, shorter days).

• The first option is incorrect because Earth is actually closer to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere winter (perihelion in early January).
• The second option is wrong as the tilt of the spin axis is relatively constant ($23.5$ degrees), not changing in the way described.
• The third option has a causation error; the amount of ice is more a result of temperature (season - related) rather than the cause of seasons.
• The fourth option is a partial truth (longer days in summer do contribute to warmth), but it doesn't address the root - cause which is the axial tilt affecting solar radiation angle.

Answer:

The spin axis is tilted 23.5 degrees to the plane of Earth's orbit, causing solar radiation to vary in angle as Earth revolves around the Sun.