Why do the days get shorter during winter in the midwest??

Question

Why do the days get shorter during winter in the midwest??

Answer 1

In the northern hemisphere the days get shorter from June to December, in the southern hemisphere they get shorter from December to June. It isn't therefore just in winter that they get shorter nor is it just in the midwest.

The earth's axis is on a tilt, as we orbit the sun, different bits are exposed to more or less of the sun's rays. That's why we have seasons and why the days and nights lengthen and shortern.

Answer 2

I believe it has to do with the tilt of the Earth's axis. If you tilt a ball on a stick away from the central point (Earth) and shine a flashlight on it, that would be summer. The light is more spread out giving Earth/the midwest a longer day. Now, if you swing the ball to the other side of the central point, where the ball is tilted away, this would be winter. The light is more condensed on one point, so days end up being shorter as the Earth makes its daily rotation.

Answer 3

The moon is the earth’s gyroscope. It causes the earth to tip and tilt. The earth tips directly towards the sun in summer and tilts away during the winter. That’s why winter days are shorter and summer days are longer as well as hotter.