During a(n) equinox, the sun's energy hits the earth's hemispheres the most evenly, and during a(n) solstice, it hits the earth's hemispheres the most unevenly.
So, the correct answer is:
b. equinox . . . solstice
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Explaination:
The terms "equinox" and "solstice" relate to the Earth's position and tilt in relation to the Sun, which in turn affects how sunlight is distributed across the planet's hemispheres.
Equinox:
An equinox occurs when the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun, causing the Sun to be directly above the equator. This results in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across the entire planet. During an equinox, the Sun's energy hits the Earth's hemispheres almost evenly because the angle of sunlight is nearly perpendicular to the surface. There are two equinoxes each year, the vernal equinox around March 20-21 and the autumnal equinox around September 22-23.
Solstice:
A solstice happens when one of the Earth's poles is tilted closest to or farthest away from the Sun. During a solstice, one hemisphere experiences its longest day (summer solstice) or its shortest day (winter solstice) of the year. The angle of sunlight during a solstice is more slanted, leading to uneven distribution of energy. This results in one hemisphere receiving more direct sunlight and the other receiving less, leading to temperature differences and seasonal changes. There are two solstices each year, the summer solstice around June 20-21 and the winter solstice around December 21-22.