Final answer:
Earth's axis tilts away from the Sun during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to shorter days and less direct sunlight, which causes cooler temperatures. The tilt of the axis, and not the distance from the Sun, is the primary reason for the seasons. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
In winter, Earth's axis tilts away from the Sun. This is because the axis is tilted by 23.5° and maintains the same direction in space throughout the year. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in shorter days and less direct sunlight, which causes cooler temperatures.
Conversely, during the same period, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, experiencing its summer season with longer days and more direct sunlight. This tilt is responsible for the changing seasons that we experience, rather than changes in the Earth's distance from the Sun, which varies only by about 3% and is not enough to cause significant temperature changes.
If Earth's axis were not tilted, we would not experience the seasonal variations in climate that we currently do. The conditions would be more uniform across the planet throughout the year.
Furthermore, the misconceptions suggesting that seasons are primarily due to Earth's distance from the Sun are incorrect. In fact, the Northern Hemisphere is closest to the Sun in January, during its winter season.
Hence, Option B is correct.