Final answer:
During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is indeed tilted towards the sun and experiences longer days. The warmth is due to the directness of the sun's rays and the duration of daylight, not Earth's proximity to the Sun, as the Earth is closest to the Sun in January.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, two statements are indeed true: the hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the length of time the sun is in the sky is longer than average. During this time, the summer solstice, which occurs around June 21st, marks the period when the sun is at its highest point in the sky for the northern part of the Earth.
An argument that contradicts the idea that proximity to the Sun is the primary reason for the warmth of the Northern Hemisphere in summer is the fact that Earth is actually closest to the Sun in January, during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. Instead, the angle of the Sun's rays and the duration of daylight play more crucial roles. The more direct sunlight and the longer days result in the increased warmth experienced during summer. This effect is compounded by Earth's atmosphere and oceans, which absorb and slowly release heat over time.
At the summer solstice, not only do the sun's rays strike the Earth more directly, but places located in the Northern Hemisphere also experience more than 12 hours of daylight, allowing the sun to heat the Earth for a longer period. This leads to the characteristic warm summer temperatures even though Earth is not at its closest to the Sun.