Use this sentence: Earth is closest to the sun in January when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question

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.
It heats up to a higher temperature during the day, but it still ends up colder because the days are shorter.
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Answer 1

The correct response to how it is possible for Earth to be closest to the sun in January while experiencing winter in the Northern Hemisphere is:

The angle at which the sun strikes Earth is more important than the distance.

This is because the tilt of Earth's axis affects the angle of sunlight that reaches the surface. Even when Earth is closest to the sun (during perihelion in early January), the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter due to this axial tilt, resulting in less direct sunlight and shorter daylight hours.