https://www.khanacademy.org/science/grade-6-science-tx/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:the-earth-sun-moon-system/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:seasons/v/why-we-have-seasons 2026-06-30T17:20:49.845080165Z Why we have seasons There are many misconceptions about what causes the seasons. It's not the changing distance of Earth to the Sun, but Earth's axial tilt that causes the seasons. When the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. This causes more direct sunlight to fall on the Northern Hemisphere. Six months later, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. It receives less direct sunlight, and therefore experiences winter. The equinoxes occur midway between the points, when the length of day and night are equal. Mahesh Shenoy video https://cdn.kastatic.org/googleusercontent/ZCdwTudJg6e6n-P2gsaUborP4izvMsGo71pvEVlX9dNYWcLXcP7VHkWpn2grt4TUP1KoJLQP9NswyHBuBLSFTBw Why we have seasons There are many misconceptions about what causes the seasons. It's not the changing distance of Earth to the Sun, but Earth's axial tilt that causes the seasons. When the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. This causes more direct sunlight to fall on the Northern Hemisphere. Six months later, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. It receives less direct sunlight, and therefore experiences winter. The equinoxes occur midway between the points, when the length of day and night are equal. https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-youtube-converted/2lSnnH12tJ4.mp4/2lSnnH12tJ4.mp4 500 Seasons https://www.khanacademy.org/science/grade-6-science-tx/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:the-earth-sun-moon-system/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:seasons/e/apply-why-we-have-seasons 2026-06-30T17:20:49.845080165Z Apply: Seasons Apply your understanding of Earth's seasons in this set of free, standards-aligned practice questions. Allen Ruch exercise