Why do differnt seasons occur?

Question

Why do differnt seasons occur?

Answer 1

Both the tilt of the earth's axis and the earth's revolution around the sun combindly produce seasons.

Answer 2

The above answers are close, but not exact.  The seasons occur only due to the angle of the suns rays hitting the ground changing as the Earth revolves about the sun (1 revolution = 1 year).  The closer the angle is to 90 degrees, the hotter it is, and the smaller the angle, the colder it is.  The relative distance from the Earth to the Sun is a non-factor.  The Earth's greatest distance from the Sun actuall occurs on July 4th.

Answer 3

Seasons happen because of the yearly revolution (a change that usually takes place in different periods of time)of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis....as Earth spins..the changes occur.

Answer 4

Something about the rotation of the earth, I guess?

Answer 5

tilt of the earth

Answer 6

This is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.  The average tilt of the Earth's axis is 23.5 degrees.  This tilt in the Earth's axis causes the sun's rays to have different impacts on the Earth.  

When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun the Northern Hemisphere is in summer.  Temperatures are much warmer b/c the sun's rays are hitting the Northern Hemisphere at a more direct angle.  This also means the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing winter.  Since the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun the sun's rays aren't hitting the Southern Hemisphere at a great angle.