Day and night, the year, and why we have seasons

Grade 6 Science Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Bo shines a flashlight straight down, then at a low slant. The slanted spot is bigger and dimmer. Which season in Ohio matches the straight-down beam?

   • Summer, when Earth is closest to the Sun
   • Any season, since the angle stays the same
   • Winter, when low sunlight is stronger
   • Summer, when the noon Sun is high

2. Read this first

   Use this

   Table, with columns Month and Noon Sun height, noon Sun height above the horizon in Phoenix, Arizona: March about 57°; June about 80°; September about 57°; December about 33°.

3. 2.

   Esme reads the table of noon Sun heights in Phoenix. In which month does each patch of ground get the least energy from sunlight?

   • June, when the Sun is highest
   • December, when the Sun is lowest
   • March and September, which tie
   • December, when Earth is farthest away

4. Use this

   Table, with columns Month and Noon Sun height, noon Sun height above the horizon in Sydney, Australia: June about 33°; December about 80°.

5. 3.

   Jun compares noon Sun heights in Sydney, Australia. In which month is Sydney's sunlight most direct, giving Sydney its summer?

   • June, the same month as summer in the north
   • December, with the Sun about 80° high
   • June, when Earth is closest to the Sun
   • June, since its low Sun is stronger
6. 4.

   March about 12; June about 19; September about 12; December about 5.5. Kira has a pen pal in Anchorage, Alaska. Which month gives Anchorage its longest days, and why?

   • Each month the same, at 12 hours of light
   • June, because the axis turns toward the Sun
   • June, when the north leans toward the Sun
   • December, when Earth is closest to the Sun
7. 5.

   March 20 about 12; June 21 about 14; September 22 about 12; December 21 about 10. Luz notices that Phoenix gets about 12 hours of daylight on two dates in the table. What is special about those dates?

   • Neither pole leans toward the Sun then
   • Earth is halfway between closest and farthest
   • The axis stands straight up on those dates
   • The whole Earth has spring on those dates

8. Use the table

   City and Daylight	hours of daylight around June 21
   Quito	Ecuador (on the equator) about 12
   Phoenix	Arizona about 14
   Anchorage	Alaska about 19

9. 6.

   Milo compares June daylight in three cities. Why does Anchorage get the most daylight in June?

   • Anchorage is closer to the Sun than Quito
   • Quito has its winter in June
   • It is far north, and the north leans sunward
   • Days last 12 hours, so the table has a mistake
10. 7.

    On the orbit diagram, place P is labeled June and Earth moves counterclockwise. Which place does Noah label December?

    • P, where the axis has turned away
    • R, where the North Pole leans away
    • S, where Earth is farthest from the Sun
    • Q, three months after June
11. 8.

    “top view from above the North Pole, not to scale” At place Q on the orbit diagram, neither pole leans toward the Sun. Which statement about place Q does Pia find true?

    • Both hemispheres have summer together
    • Day and night are about 12 hours each, worldwide
    • Earth is at its closest to the Sun
    • The axis points straight up and down
12. 9.

    “Orbit diagram, top view from above the North Pole, not to scale:” At place P, the North Pole leans toward the Sun. Ren lives in South Africa. What does Ren have when Earth is at P?

    • Short days and a low noon Sun: winter
    • Long days, because the axis tips south in June
    • Short days, because Earth is far from the Sun
    • Long days and a high noon Sun: summer
13. 10.

    Early January about 147 million km; early July about 152 million km. Tala reads that Earth is closest to the Sun in early January. What does this show about winter in the north?

    • The axis turns away from the Sun in January
    • Distance does not cause the seasons
    • Both hemispheres have summer in January
    • January must be summer in the north