Question

How does the inclination of Earth's axis change over the course of a year?

A. The inclination of Earth's axis becomes shorter.
B. The inclination of Earth's axis becomes steeper.
C. The inclination of Earth's axis becomes shallower.
D. The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.
E. The inclination of Earth's axis becomes longer.

Answer 1

The inclination of Earth's axis changes over the course of a year. It becomes shallower when the angle is lower, resulting in milder summers and winters. When the angle is higher, the inclination becomes steeper and seasonality increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The inclination of Earth's axis changes over the course of a year due to a phenomenon known as obliquity. Earth has a tilt to its axis that varies between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees in a cycle that lasts about 41,000 years. The inclination becomes shallower when the angle is lower, resulting in decreased seasonality with milder summers and winters. Conversely, when the angle is higher, the inclination becomes steeper and seasonality increases, leading to hotter summers and colder winters.