The Earth's Maximum Distance from the Sun

The correct answer is option 'D' - July 4th. Let's explore why July 4th is the date when the Earth is at its maximum distance from the Sun.

Earth's Orbit and Seasons
- The Earth orbits around the Sun in an elliptical path, with the Sun located at one of the foci of the ellipse.
- The axis of the Earth is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit.
- This tilt is responsible for the changing seasons on Earth as different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

Perihelion and Aphelion
- The points in the Earth's orbit where it is closest and farthest from the Sun are called perihelion and aphelion, respectively.
- Perihelion occurs around January 3rd when the Earth is closest to the Sun.
- Aphelion occurs around July 4th when the Earth is farthest from the Sun.

Reason for July 4th as Aphelion
- The Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse.
- As a result, the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies throughout the year.
- The Earth's orbit is such that it moves faster when it is closer to the Sun (during perihelion) and slower when it is farther away (during aphelion).
- This phenomenon is described by Kepler's second law of planetary motion, which states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
- Since the Earth moves slower during aphelion, it spends more time in that part of its orbit before moving on to perihelion.
- Therefore, July 4th is the date when the Earth is at its maximum distance from the Sun.

Conclusion
July 4th is the date when the Earth is at its maximum distance from the Sun. This is due to the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit, which causes it to move slower when it is farther away from the Sun.