Keep distance fixed
Watch sunlight change even though the circular orbit keeps Sun distance constant.
Seasons and Sunlight
Change axial tilt, orbit position and latitude to compare noon sunlight and daylight duration.
Grades 3–5 · Earth Science
Your goal
Explore latitude 45° with 24° tilt at orbit position 90°. Compare the noon angle and daylight with the equator.
Reduced motion is on. The controls still update the scene.
At latitude 0°, noon Sun altitude is 90.0° and daylight lasts 12.0 hours. Solar declination is 0.0°.
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Axial tilt changes sunlight angle and day length. This circular orbit deliberately holds Sun distance constant. Earth sizes and orbit distances use independent drawing scales. The enlarged globe shows the Sun-facing projection of the axis; local angle and day length use spherical geometry without atmosphere. Real Earth tilts about 23.4°.
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Learn with Seasons and Sunlight
Seasons and Sunlight lets elementary learners change the tilt of Earth, move around a circular orbit, and choose a latitude. Read the noon Sun angle and daylight hours as the northern and southern hemispheres take turns leaning toward sunlight. Compare a tilted Earth with zero tilt to see why changing distance from the Sun is unnecessary for this seasonal pattern. The diagram separates an orbit view from an enlarged globe, while numerical readings connect a local observation with the geometry of the whole planet.
What to look for
Compare hemispheres
Switch latitude from positive to negative while keeping the same orbit position.
Remove the tilt
Set tilt to zero and compare daylight at several positions.
For teachers and curious learners
Explain how axial tilt changes sunlight angle and day length through a year. Ask students to predict what will happen, change one setting, and explain what they observe. Learn gives a starting point. Practice and Challenge offer new goals with the same scene.
Circular Earth orbit, a spherical surface and no atmospheric refraction. Sizes and orbital distances use separate drawing scales; real Earth tilt is about 23.4 degrees.