It takes approximately 365.25 earth days of 24 hours each to complete one orbit around the sun.
In calendars we just state 365 days, and we make up for the 0.25 days omitted in this calculation once every four years. This is called the 'leap year', where we have 366 days instead, with an extra day in February.
When sunlight strikes Earth, approximately 30% is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface. The remaining 70% is absorbed by the atmosphere, oceans, and land, which helps to drive the planet's climate and weather systems. This balance is crucial for maintaining life on Earth.
The circle of illumination does not coincide with the Earth's axis because it is determined by the position of the Sun relative to the Earth. As the Earth rotates on its tilted axis, only half of the planet is illuminated by sunlight at any given time, creating the circle of illumination that divides the day side from the night side. The tilt of the Earth's axis (approximately 23.5 degrees) also affects the angle and extent of sunlight received, further separating the circle of illumination from the axis itself.
Sunlight strikes the equator directly, and over a shorter distance through the earth's atmosphere, so retains more heat. At the poles, the sunlight strikes at an angle, and the light travels further through the atmosphere, so being much cooler.
Earth is warmer at the equator than at the poles mainly due to the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth's surface. Near the equator, sunlight hits more directly, providing more heat energy per unit area, whereas at the poles, sunlight strikes at an oblique angle, spreading the energy over a larger area and thus resulting in cooler temperatures.
That varies from almost zero (black surfaces) to all of it (white & shiny surfaces).
The Earth's layer that sunlight strikes first is the ozone layer.
The angle at which sunlight strikes Earth's surface varies depending on the time of day and the location on Earth. When the Sun is directly overhead, the sunlight strikes the surface at a 90-degree angle, which maximizes the intensity of the sunlight. As the Sun moves lower in the sky, the angle of sunlight decreases, leading to greater dispersion of sunlight and lower intensity.
When sunlight strikes the Earth, it provides energy for photosynthesis in plants, warms the planet's surface, and drives the Earth's weather patterns and climate. Sunlight also stimulates the production of vitamin D in human skin and provides illumination for various organisms to carry out their daily activities.
When sunlight strikes Earth, approximately 30% is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth's surface. The remaining 70% is absorbed by the atmosphere, oceans, and land, which helps to drive the planet's climate and weather systems. This balance is crucial for maintaining life on Earth.
The phases are caused by the angle that the sunlight strikes the moon.
put earth and sunlight in the circle and you got darkness
Sunlight strikes the Earth at varying angles depending on the latitude and the time of year, primarily in the shape of an oval or ellipse when considering the equatorial regions. Near the equator, sunlight is more direct, leading to a more concentrated and intense illumination, while at higher latitudes, sunlight strikes at a slant, spreading out its energy over a larger area. This variation significantly affects climate and seasonal changes across the planet.
The more acute the angle at which the sunlight strikes, the more atmosphere that sunlight must pass through. Passing through more atmosphere will weaken and dim the light beams. As the angle at which sunlight hits the earth changes, the same amount of sunlight is spread over different areas, so that near the poles each area of surface receives less intense radiation than an equivalent area near the poles.
The Earth's tilt on its axis as it orbits the sun is what causes the seasons. This tilt affects the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth's surface, leading to varying day length and intensity of sunlight throughout the year.
The circle of illumination does not coincide with the Earth's axis because it is determined by the position of the Sun relative to the Earth. As the Earth rotates on its tilted axis, only half of the planet is illuminated by sunlight at any given time, creating the circle of illumination that divides the day side from the night side. The tilt of the Earth's axis (approximately 23.5 degrees) also affects the angle and extent of sunlight received, further separating the circle of illumination from the axis itself.
Of course sunlight doesn't hit the earth's surface evenly! Countries on the equator or near it receive the most direct sunlight. And of course countries in the artic circle have hardly any! [^-^]
The moon is never closer to the sun than to the earth. The apparent shape is based on the angle at which sunlight strikes the moon.