What is a common misconception about the cause of seasons?

Answer 1

A common misconception about the cause of seasons is that they are solely caused by the Earth's varying distance from the sun. Many people believe that the Earth is closer to the sun during summer and farther away during winter, leading to the change in seasons. In reality, seasons are primarily caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. The axis of the Earth is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. This tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year, resulting in the different seasons. When a hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer, while the opposite hemisphere experiences winter. The distance to the sun does have a small effect on seasonal variations, but it is not the primary factor.