2.2 Earth & Sun Relationships Big Idea: The angle of the Sun’s rays hitting the Earth affects the solar energy received at different locations. Highlighted vocabulary Then Take out a paper and label it 2.2 notes

Section 2 Discussion Questions How does the angle of the Sun’s rays affect the amount of solar energy received at different locations on Earth? What are solstices and equinoxes?

Section 2-Earth-Sun Relationships Solar Energy and Latitude A. Low latitudes near Equator receive lots of solar energy year round (tropics)-rays more direct. B. Rays are direct in tropics and indirect in mid-latitudes. C. Polar regions receive the least- North and South poles Solar –energy review Energy-energy from sun in form of heat and light. It impacts life in many ways. Remember that the earth is not tilted directly up or down but is tilted at an angle so that when it spins ( or rotates) not everywhere on the earth receives the same amount of direct sun light. Use blow up globe to display this. Or bathroom globe with flashlight. Pull up transparency ( angle of the sun’s rays hitting Earth) Middle latitudes are the places between the poles and the equator Can also change the amount of day light- example when the north pole is pointed toward the sun the days are longer and warmer. Mention to students what is happening to the temperature now in Missouri. What does this mean for the rays hitting the earth and the earths tilt? What do we call this when the temperatures change?

II. The Seasons A. 4 seasons B II. The Seasons A. 4 seasons B. Summer-rays are stronger, winter-rays are weaker in northern hemisphere. C. Northern and southern hemispheres are opposites Pull up seasons Transparency Time of greater and lesser heat is the seasons Seasons can differ from place to place. some places it is changes in temperature and others it is wet or dry seasons like in the tropics. Summer more energy longer days Fall more equal night and days Earths tilt allow for northern and southern hemispheres to have opposite seasons Example us and Australia ( they are entering summer while we are entering winter)

Solstices 1. Dec. 21 and June 21 2. Earth is tilted closest to or furthest from sun 3. Dec. 21 has fewest daylight hours…marks 1st day of winter in Northern Hemisphere. The north pole is tilted the furthest from the sun 4. June 21 is opposite longest day during the summer and the south pole is tilted furthest from the sun. 5. Rays shine from Tropic of Capricorn (south of equator) to Tropic of Cancer (north of equator) 6. 24 hours of daylight at north pole during June solstice…24 hours of daylight at south pole during Dec. solstice. Bring up transparency again ( the seasons) Solstices (December) Poles point SH closest and NH furthest from the sun What is the reason again why they can point the furthest or closest at the same time? 23.5 degree tropic of Capricorn south pole all day sunlight 23.5 arctic circle north pole no sunlight Solstices ( June) Poles NH great daylight hrs – strikes tropic of cancer Poles SH lest daylight The winter solstice in Ancient Ireland ( click on mound picture) Knowledge of solstices has been around for thousands of years – since the Neolithic age. New grange Ireland is one of these site that proves this knowledge A tomb about 5,000 years old Only once a year for fifteen minutes does the sun shine down a 62 foot passage way to the tombs at the end of the passage.

Equinoxes- poles not pointed towards or away from sun 1. March 21 and Sept. 22 2. Day and night are equal 3. Earth is at 90 degrees with sun 4. March 21-beginning of Spring- Northern Hemisphere 5. September 22-beginning of Fall- southern hemisphere Equinox means = night Both poles 90 angle from sun Tropic receive most direct light Both poles equal amount of sun light 12 hrs