Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to seaso

Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season are due to

the earth's rotation on its axis
the earth's revolution round the sun in an elliptical manner
latitudinal position of the place
revolution of the earth on a tilted axis
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
The correct option is D, stating that the variation in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season is due to the revolution of the earth on a tilted axis.
– The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun.
– As the Earth revolves around the sun, this tilt causes different parts of the Earth to be inclined towards or away from the sun at different times of the year.
– When a hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences longer days and shorter nights (summer). When it is tilted away from the sun, it receives less direct sunlight and experiences shorter days and longer nights (winter).
– The Earth’s rotation on its axis causes the daily cycle of day and night, but not the seasonal variation in their lengths.
– The elliptical orbit affects the Earth’s distance from the sun, influencing the intensity of sunlight and subtly affecting orbital speed, but the seasonal variation in day length is primarily due to the axial tilt.
– Latitudinal position influences the *magnitude* of the variation; the variation is minimal at the equator and maximal at the poles, but the underlying cause is the axial tilt and revolution.
This tilt is responsible for the occurrence of seasons and the varying angle of the sun in the sky throughout the year, in addition to the variation in day length.