On the December solstice, the north end of Earth's rotation axis points _______________________ from the Sun.

On the December solstice, the north end of Earth's rotation axis points _______________________ from the Sun.

• A. Away
• B. Toward
• C. Perpendicular
• D. Sideways

Answer: (A)

The tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun is what controls where the axis points at different times of year. On the December solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, so the north end of Earth's rotation axis points away from the Sun. That orientation makes the Sun appear lower in the sky and results in shorter daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Later in the year, around the June solstice, the axis tilts toward the Sun, and the north end points toward it, leading to longer days.

The tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the Sun is what controls where the axis points at different times of year. On the December solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, so the north end of Earth's rotation axis points away from the Sun. That orientation makes the Sun appear lower in the sky and results in shorter daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Later in the year, around the June solstice, the axis tilts toward the Sun, and the north end points toward it, leading to longer days.