Science Common Sense

259 - What causes seasons on Earth?

The Earth rotates on its side as it moves around the sun. Imagine you're holding a big beach ball (the Earth) and moving it around a lamp (the sun).

The tilt of the Earth's side is about 23.5 degrees. When the part of the Earth where you live is tilted towards the sun, you get more sunlight and it's warmer, which is summer.

When it's tilted away from the sun, you get less sunlight and it's colder, which is winter. In between, you have spring and autumn when the sunlight is just right.

That's why we have different seasons on Earth.