Question

Use this sentence: Earth is closest to the sun in January when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. How is this possible? (1 point) Responses The sun is heating the Northern Hemisphere more in winter, but it takes awhile for it to heat up. The sun is heating the Northern Hemisphere more in winter, but it takes awhile for it to heat up. It heats up to a higher temperature during the day, but it still ends up colder because the days are shorter. It heats up to a higher temperature during the day, but it still ends up colder because the days are shorter. The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance. The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance. The sun is smaller during the winter months. The sun is smaller during the winter months.

Answer 1

The most accurate response to explain why Earth is closest to the sun in January, when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, is: **The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance.**

This response acknowledges that the Earth's axial tilt affects the angle of sunlight that reaches different parts of the planet, which plays a critical role in temperature and seasonal changes, rather than the distance from the sun alone.