i pub) 2. A planet\'s seasonal changes are primarily due to the tilt of its rota
ID: 299639 • Letter: I
Question
i pub) 2. A planet's seasonal changes are primarily due to the tilt of its rotation axis relative to the plane of the orbit around the Sun. The inclination of the axis causes sunlight to strike the surface at a changing angle throughout the year. Complete parts a -1. a. What other terrestrial planet's axis of rotation is inclined by approximately the same amount as that of Mars and therefore experiences similar seasonal changes? b. Which planet has seasons of longer duration, your answer to part a or Mars? Explain.Explanation / Answer
a.The axis of rotation or the tilt towards the sun is most closest to planet Earth as Mars's tilt at angle of 25 degrees whereas earth at angle of 23.5,therefore experiencing similar seasonal changes.
b.The approximate length of 1 year on mars is around twice of earth(1.88 years)due to its axis of rotation with respect to orbital plane. The spring season lasts for 7 months,summer season for 6 months,fall season for 5.3 months and winter season for 4 months whereas on earth all the 4 seasons are of nearly equal lengths of 3 months each on most of the part of the world.
c.Set B spreads out to larger surface area because sunlight comes at lower angle(30 degrees) like in Set B the energy of sunlight spreads to larger area as compared to Set A in which sunlight strikes at 90 degrees angle over smaller area.
d.The rays of sunlight in Set A will cause greater heating effect because heating over a particular area is dependent on sun angle.Therefore the sun angle in Set A is 90 degrees which is directly overhead enabling energy concentrated on a smaller area and causing heating.
e.Set A corresponds to summer season whereas Set B corresponds to winter season.
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