Fig. 81.—Position of the Earth
and Sun in Winter.
Fig. 82.—Position of the Earth
and Sun in Spring.
Fig. 83.—Position of the Earth
and Sun in Summer.
Now grasp the top of the needle, which is the north pole, with the left hand and hold the apple away from the candle, as shown in [Fig. 80]. This is the position of the earth to the Sun on September 22, when the Sun passes directly over the Earth’s equator, and for us autumn is at hand.
Now pull the apple by its north pole toward you and around one quarter of the circle chalked on the table, as shown in [Fig. 81], which is the position of the Earth to the Sun on December 21. You will see that the north pole is away from the light and heat and hence it is dark and winter there; but the south pole on the other end is getting plenty of light and heat and it is both day and summer there. This marks the beginning of our winter.
Fig. 84.—Cycle Of Seasons.
Push the apple by its north pole—always being careful to keep the knitting needle tilted in the same position—around another quarter of a circle and this is where the Earth is in its orbit, and its position to the Sun on about March 21. Once again the Sun is over the Earth’s equator and all parts or our world are then lighted and heated twelve hours out of the twenty-four, and we have the beginning of spring. [See Fig. 82].