What causes the difference in the amount of sun’s heat energy received by the North Pole and the equator? The amount of surface area, the distance of earth from the sun, the rotation of Earth on its axis, or the motion of earth through its orbit.

Answer 1

The difference in the amount of sun's heat energy received by the North Pole and the equator is primarily caused by the following factors:

1. The amount of surface area: The equator receives more sun's heat energy compared to the North Pole because the equator covers a larger surface area that is directly exposed to the sun's rays.

2. The distance of Earth from the sun: Although the distance between the Earth and the sun does affect the overall temperature, it is not the main cause of temperature differences between the North Pole and the equator. The tilt of Earth's axis plays a more significant role.

3. The rotation of Earth on its axis: The rotation of the Earth on its axis leads to day and night cycles. This rotation causes a relatively even distribution of heat energy from the sun across different regions of the Earth over the course of a day.

4. The motion of Earth through its orbit: Earth's orbit around the sun is elliptical, but this factor does not have a significant impact on the temperature differences between the North Pole and the equator. The tilt of Earth's axis is more influential in determining temperature variations.