Question

Distinguish between the following: Aphelion and Perihelion.

Answer 1

Hint: Both the terms (Aphelion and Perihelion) explain different points in the Earth’s orbit (path) of the Sun. Always remember that the earth around the Sun is an elliptical path that is oval, not circular. Both the words (Aphelion and Perihelion) come from Ancient Greek, in which hellion means “Sun,” Apo means “far,” and Peri means “close,”.

Complete answer: Aphelion- It's a point in the Earth’s orbit which is far away from the Sun. Aphelion consistently happens in early July. Almost 2 weeks after the June Solstice, Earth is far away from the Sun (94.5 Million Miles, or 152 Million Kilometers). Aphelion occurs on July 3rd. Earth’s speed is slowest at Aphelion (Kepler’s Second Law). Perihelion- It is the point in the Earth’s orbit that is closest to the Sun. Perihelion always happens at the starting of January. Almost 2 weeks after the December Solstice, Earth is nearest to the sun (91.5 Million Miles, or 147 Million Kilometers). Perihelion occurs on January 4th. The speed of Earth is fastest at Perihelion
This disparity does not have much effect on weather patterns or season.

Note: The solstice refers to the events when the Sun’s placed at an apparent position in the sky reaches its northernmost and southernmost extremes. The solstice happens 2 times in the year, the summer solstice and the winter solstice, when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest day. A constant angle is maintained between the earth’s axis and its plane of elliptic, which is known as the Angle of Inclination.