Which of the following responses most closely explains why it is hotter in New York in June than it is in December? ( ExplainWhy?)

A) Earth is closer to the sun June.

B) The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the sun in June.

C) The sun is higher in the sky and provides more hours of daylight in June.

D) The sun is higher in the sky and provides more hours of daylight in June.

Monika – Chose letterB, she believes Earth is closer to the sun in June because the sun rotates around the earth, and it becomes closer.

Rich - Choose letter B, he beleives because it made sense that
the sun would be closer to the Northern Hemisphere to the sun and that’s why it
is warmer in the summer than in June.

Renee- Choose letter D, she believes if the sun is higher in the sky it makes a bigger arch over the earth and allows more hours of daylight. This allows the sun to heat up the earth more, therefore causing the earth to be warmer.

The correct answer is D, The sun is higher in the sky and provides more hours of daylight in June.

Scientific Fact-

“The angle at which the Sun's light strike Earth affects the temperature--the Sun's
energy is more concentrated when the Sun is high in the sky. Weather is also warmer in summer because the Sun, being higher, provides more hours of light as it travels a greater distance across the sky. This longer exposure to sunlight gives the land, seas, and air masses more time to warm during the day.

When the Sun reaches high in the sky and its rays of light (and heat) strike the ground nearly perpendicular to the ground (see diagram) we have summer. When the Sun at noon is low in the sky, its rays hit the ground at a more glancing angle, resultingin the warming action of these rays being spread out more; any one spot
receives less heat (see diagram). We then have winter.”http://learner.org/teacherslab/pup/answer2.phtml

Here's how others
answered this question:

Other (general public)

A. 66

B. 206

C. 2362

D. 1801

So as we can see this question is huge misconception with many people.

Fun hands on activity to prove this point.

You will need:

Flashlight

An object (sphere object if you have it)

A quick hands-on demonstration of how this theory work is  by holding a flashlight vertically above a surface. Notice  that the circle of light is concentrated when the flashlight is held vertically. This is how the sun is in the summer and why it warmer in June. Now, hold the flashlight at an angle to the surface. Notice how the light is less bright and spreads out when you hold it at an angle. This is how the sun is in the winter and this why the its colder because the sun is at an angle.

 CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVABmQgwhMY

Resources

Linda W. Braun, Jeffrey Braxton, Nancy
Finkelstein, Ed Piou, Rick Schmalgemeier, M. G. Wood Linda Shore, Fred Stein. Which of the following responses most closely explains why it is hotter in New York in June than it is in December?
Retrieved from http://learner.org/teacherslab/pup/question2.phtml?who=9

GrayRambo1,(Aug. 30 2012) The Real
Reason The Summer is Warmer Than The Winter (Northern Hemisphere) Retrieved
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVABmQgwhMY