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 smaller during the winter months. The sun is smaller during the winter months. 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 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.

Answer 1

The correct response to explain why Earth is closest to the sun in January while it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere is: The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance.

This is because the seasons are primarily determined by the tilt of Earth's axis, which affects the angle of sunlight that reaches different parts of the planet, rather than the distance from the sun. During January, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to less direct sunlight and colder temperatures, despite being at its closest point (perihelion) to the sun.