Why are summers generally warmer than winters?

Question

I don't know if this side of the earth is the Northern hemisphere or the Southern hemisphere. And I really don't know the answer. Please help.

Answer 1

Taryn,

 

This is due to the Earth's tilt on it's axis. In the summer (regardless of the hemisphere) the Earth is tilted toward the Sun so that the energy rays more directly enter Earth's atmosphere which means that more get through to warm up the Earth instead of getting deflected by the gasses in the atmosphere.  In the winter the Earth is tilted away from the sun, so the energy takes a more diagonal route through the atmosphere allowing the atmosphere to deflect more back out into space instead of it hitting Earth's surface and heating it up. 

 

Drawing a diagram of this for your student would be the most helpful.  Include the atmosphere surrounding the planet and have them measure the distance that the sun's rays travel through the atmosphere before hitting the surface.  The longer the line the less energy makes it through and the colder the overall temp.