Solstices, Equinoxes, Seasons, and Hemisphere Day Length Review

Welcome to the final quick review. In the last lesson, you sorted out hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, blizzards, and droughts. Now you will finish the test set with solstices, equinoxes, seasons, and day length.

The key idea is that Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. It is not because Earth is much closer to the Sun in summer. Your three test answers depend on noticing whether the question says summer solstice, winter solstice, or equinox—and remembering that the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have opposite seasons.

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The one cause behind all three questions

Earth’s axis is tilted about $23.5^{\circ }$. As Earth travels around the Sun, one hemisphere is tilted more toward the Sun while the other is tilted more away from it.

When a hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, it receives more direct sunlight and has longer daylight hours: that hemisphere has summer. The opposite hemisphere has winter and shorter daylight hours.

Use this rule when a question gives a date:

Event	Northern Hemisphere	Southern Hemisphere
June solstice	Summer; longest daylight	Winter; shortest daylight
December solstice	Winter; shortest daylight	Summer; longest daylight
March equinox	Spring begins	Autumn begins
September equinox	Autumn begins	Spring begins

The test will usually use the Northern Hemisphere unless it specifically mentions the Southern Hemisphere.

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Solstices: the longest and shortest daylight

A solstice happens twice a year, around June and December. It marks the time when the Sun’s apparent path is farthest north or south of the Equator.

For a particular hemisphere:

• The summer solstice is its longest day of the year—meaning the most hours of daylight.
• The winter solstice is its shortest day of the year—meaning the fewest hours of daylight.

“Longest day” does not mean the day lasts more than 24 hours. It means daylight lasts longer before sunset arrives.

Blooket-style question 33

Which event has the longest period of daylight in a hemisphere?

A. Autumnal equinox
B. Summer solstice
C. Vernal equinox
D. Winter solstice

ANSWER: SUMMER SOLSTICE

For your class’s Northern Hemisphere context, the summer solstice occurs around June 20–22. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs around December 21.

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Equinoxes: nearly equal day and night

An equinox occurs twice a year, around March and September. At an equinox, the Sun is directly above the Equator, so day and night are approximately equal in length—about 12 hours each.

The word equinox can help you remember this:

• equi means equal
• an equinox is associated with equal daylight and darkness

Equinoxes mark the beginning of spring or autumn, depending on the hemisphere:

• The March equinox begins spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
• The September equinox begins autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

Blooket-style question 38

Which event marks the beginning of spring or autumn?

A. Equinox
B. Hurricane
C. Solstice
D. Tornado

ANSWER: EQUINOX

A useful contrast:

Clue in the question	Correct answer
Longest or shortest daylight	Solstice
Day and night are about equal	Equinox
Start of spring or autumn	Equinox

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Correcting Question 39: winter is shortest in either hemisphere

The supplied answer key says SOUTHERN for Question 39. That is incomplete and misleading.

Every hemisphere’s winter solstice is that hemisphere’s shortest day of the year:

• Northern Hemisphere winter solstice, around December 21: shortest Northern Hemisphere daylight.
• Southern Hemisphere winter solstice, around June 21: shortest Southern Hemisphere daylight.

So the correct answer to the question as written is both hemispheres.

Blooket-style question 39

In which hemisphere is the winter solstice the shortest day of the year?

A. Northern Hemisphere only
B. Southern Hemisphere only
C. Both hemispheres
D. Neither hemisphere

ANSWER: BOTH HEMISPHERES

Do not let the two hemispheres confuse you: they have winter at opposite times, but winter solstice always means the shortest daylight period for the hemisphere having winter.

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Three-question speed round

33. Which event has the longest amount of daylight in a hemisphere?

A. Autumnal equinox
B. Summer solstice
C. Vernal equinox
D. Winter solstice

ANSWER: SUMMER SOLSTICE

38. What event marks the beginning of spring or autumn?

A. Equinox
B. Hurricane
C. Solstice
D. Tsunami

ANSWER: EQUINOX

39. In which hemisphere is the winter solstice the shortest day of the year?

A. Northern Hemisphere only
B. Southern Hemisphere only
C. Both hemispheres
D. Neither hemisphere

ANSWER: BOTH HEMISPHERES

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Last-minute memory set

• EARTH’S TILT CAUSES THE SEASONS.
• SUMMER SOLSTICE: longest daylight period in that hemisphere.
• WINTER SOLSTICE: shortest daylight period in that hemisphere.
• EQUINOX: about equal day and night; begins spring or autumn.
• JUNE: Northern Hemisphere summer; Southern Hemisphere winter.
• DECEMBER: Northern Hemisphere winter; Southern Hemisphere summer.
• QUESTION 39 CORRECTION: winter solstice is shortest in BOTH HEMISPHERES, each during its own winter.

You have now reviewed all 50 supplied geography-test topics. For a final quick study pass, focus on the capitalized answer reveals and the clue words that identify each term.