Final answer:
Seasons on Earth are caused by its 23.5° axial c. tilt, affecting the angle and duration of sunlight received in different hemispheres, not by Earth's distance from the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The seasons on Earth are primarily caused by Earth's c. tilt, which is a 23.5° tilt of its axis of rotation. Despite popular belief, the change in distance between Earth and the Sun is minimal throughout the year and is not the main factor for seasonal changes.
In fact, during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is closest to the Sun. The key to understanding seasons lies in the angle at which the Sun's rays hit the Earth's surface. When one hemisphere tilts towards the Sun, it experiences summer due to more direct sunlight and longer days.
Conversely, when a hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, it experiences winter due to less direct sunlight and shorter days. If Earth's axis were not tilted, we would not experience the variety of seasons as we do now.