Why is it hotter at the equator than it is at the poles? a. Because the equator is closer to the sun. … Because the sun’s rays hit the earth’s surface at a higher angle at the equator.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: Because the sun’s rays hit the earth’s surface at a higher angle at the equator.
The Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees, which results in varying angles of sunlight reaching different parts of the planet at different times of the year. Near the equator, the sun’s rays strike the Earth’s surface more directly, or at a higher angle. This means the same amount of solar energy is concentrated over a smaller area, leading to higher temperatures.
In contrast, at the poles, the sun’s rays arrive at a much shallower angle. This causes the energy to be spread over a larger surface area, which reduces the intensity of the heat received. Additionally, the sunlight has to travel through a greater portion of the atmosphere, which further diffuses and weakens the energy before it reaches the ground.
Another contributing factor is the Earth’s curvature. The equator is essentially at the “widest” part of the Earth, so the surface area at the equator is directly exposed to sunlight for a longer period during the day compared to the poles, where the days are much shorter and the sun never rises very high above the horizon.
Finally, during the polar regions’ winter months, the poles experience a phenomenon known as the polar night, where they are in complete darkness for extended periods. This lack of sunlight further reduces the overall temperature, contributing to the cold conditions at the poles.
Thus, it is the direct, concentrated rays of sunlight at the equator that make it hotter, whereas the shallow, diffused rays at the poles result in much cooler temperatures.
