Final answer:
Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours, causing day and night, and the seasons are a result of Earth's 23.5° axial tilt during its orbit around the Sun. It is this tilt that determines the varying angles of sunlight that produce different seasons, rather than the distance from the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of day and night, as well as seasons, is explained by the movement of the Earth. Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours, which results in the alternation of day and night by exposing different sides of the planet to the Sun. Contrary to the now debunked view that the Sun revolves around Earth every 24 hours, it is the Earth that rotates, giving the impression of the Sun circling around us.
The reason for different seasons lies in the 23.5° tilt of Earth's axis. This tilt causes varying angles of sunlight to reach different parts of Earth during its orbit around the Sun. For instance, during the Northern Hemisphere's winter, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, experiencing summer. Conversely, the Northern Hemisphere's summer coincides with the Southern Hemisphere's winter when it is tilted towards the Sun. At the equinoxes, both hemispheres receive approximately equal amounts of sunlight.
If we were considering the ancient belief that the Sun moved around the Earth, we now understand that it's the change in Earth's position relative to the Sun throughout the year that causes the Sun's apparent movement in our sky. The progression of Earth around the Sun is what gives us the changing seasons, not the changing distance between Earth and the Sun, as the distance only varies by about 3% and is not the primary factor affecting seasonal temperature changes.