9 Questions
How long is a day based on the earth's rotation?
It takes 24 hours for the earth to make one complete rotation
What accounts for the 0.25 days per year in the earth's orbit around the sun?
An extra day is added to the calendar every 4 years
Approximately how long does it take the moon to orbit the earth?
A month
Why do we only see one side of the moon from the earth?
It rotates on its axis at the same rate that it orbits the earth and in the same direction as the Earth rotates
How long is a day based on the earth's rotation?
It takes 24 hours for the earth to make one complete rotation
What accounts for the 0.25 days per year in the earth's orbit around the sun?
An extra day is added to the calendar every 4 years
Approximately how long does it take the moon to orbit the earth?
A month
Why do we only see one side of the moon from the earth?
It rotates on its axis at the same rate that it orbits the earth and in the same direction as the Earth rotates
What is the reason for the 24-hour day-night cycle on earth?
The earth's rotation on its axis
Study Notes
Earth's Rotation and Orbit
- A day is approximately 24 hours long based on the Earth's rotation on its axis.
- The Earth's orbit around the Sun takes approximately 365.24 days, which accounts for the extra 0.25 days per year.
Moon's Orbit and Visibility
- The Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to complete one orbit around the Earth.
- We only see one side of the Moon from the Earth because the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, meaning it takes the Moon the same amount of time to rotate on its axis as it takes to orbit the Earth.
Day-Night Cycle
- The 24-hour day-night cycle on Earth is caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis, which results in different parts of the planet facing towards or away from the Sun.
Test your knowledge of celestial mechanics with this quiz on the Earth's rotation and orbit. From understanding the length of a day to the reason for the extra 0.25 days per year, challenge yourself with these astronomy questions.
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