what causes sunlight to hit different latitudes on Earth at different angles?

Answer 1

The angle at which sunlight hits the Earth's surface at different latitudes is primarily caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. The Earth is tilted on its axis at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun. As a result, different latitudes receive sunlight at different angles throughout the year, leading to variations in the intensity and duration of daylight.

During the summer solstice, one hemisphere of the Earth is tilted towards the sun, resulting in the sun's rays hitting that hemisphere at a more direct angle and providing longer hours of daylight. Conversely, during the winter solstice, the opposite hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, causing sunlight to hit at a more oblique angle and leading to shorter days.

Additionally, the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun also contributes to variations in the angle of sunlight at different latitudes. This orbital variation, known as eccentricity, causes the distance between the Earth and the sun to change slightly throughout the year, affecting the intensity of sunlight received at different latitudes.