Question

Which of the following is TRUE regarding Earth's axis?

1) The axis is tilted 23.5° from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.
2) Axial tilt is unrelated to the phenomenon of seasonal change.
3) The amount of axial tilt fluctuates during the year and forms the basis for seasonal changes.
4) The axis remains parallel to the plane of the ecliptic.

Answer 1

The correct statement regarding Earth's axis is that it is tilted 23.5° from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, which creates the seasonal changes we experience. This tilt is not parallel to the ecliptic, and it does not fluctuate throughout the year to cause seasons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding Earth's axis, the following statement is true: The axis is tilted 23.5° from a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. This tilt is actually responsible for the phenomenon of seasonal change. The axial tilt does not fluctuate throughout the year to form the basis for seasonal changes.

Instead, it's the Earth's orbit around the Sun combined with the constant tilt of the axis that results in different seasons. Moreover, the axis is not parallel to the plane of the ecliptic; if it were, there would be no seasons.

The tilt of Earth's axis varies over a cycle of approximately 41,000 years between 22.1° and 24.5°. The obliquity, or tilt, of Earth's axis affects the intensity of seasons, with a greater tilt leading to more extreme seasonal differences. This long-term variation is known as the obliquity cycle and is part of the Milankovitch cycles that influence Earth's climatic patterns over geological timescales.