Why does the Earth’s tilt do a ‘do si do’ around the Sun as opposed tilting consistently?
I have never quite fathomed this question. It seems to get ignored when people are explaining the seasons in terms of the Earth’s tilt and its rotation around the Sun.
Why does the Earth’s tilt do a ‘do si do‘ around the Sun as opposed tilting consistently?
If you sit on a roundabout in a playground and go for a spin, you tend to hold on and lean outwards consistently as you go around. If the Earth did this, then the tilt would always be at the same angle in relation to the axis of the Sun’s.
However, apparently, the Earth’s tilt does not stay consistant as it goes around the Sun. Hence, allowing for the lower hemisphere and upper hemisphere to take turns leaning into it.
I’ve always been frustrated by the fact that this issue is often ‘just assumed’ in explanations of the seasons. As a child, the only experience I had of spinning around something was on a round-about or fairground ride. In all cases my tilt was consistent throughout each revolution.
Just got that off my chest….now back to watching that amazing programme by Brian Cox
P.S - Here is a good visualisation of the Earth’s Orbit around the Sun.
