Earth's Rotation and Revolution

Movement of Earth

Rotation

• Earth's rotation is the movement of the planet on its axis from west to east.
• It takes approximately 24 hours to complete one rotation.
• Rotation causes day and night cycles.
• The speed of rotation at the equator is about 1,674 km/h (1,040 mph).
• The rotation of Earth is responsible for the apparent movement of the sun, stars, and other celestial bodies in the sky.

Revolution

• Earth's revolution is the movement of the planet around the sun in an elliptical orbit.
• It takes approximately 365.25 days to complete one revolution.
• Revolution is responsible for the changing of the seasons.
• The speed of revolution is about 29.78 km/s (18.5 mi/s).
• The Earth's orbit is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees, which affects the distribution of sunlight and heat around the planet.

Earth's Axis

• The axis of Earth is an imaginary line that runs through the North and South Poles.
• The axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of the Earth's orbit.
• The tilt of the axis is responsible for the changing of the seasons.
• The axis remains relatively fixed in space, pointing towards the North Star (Polaris) in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The axis is not fixed in place, but rather wobbles slightly over a period of 26,000 years due to the gravitational pull of other celestial bodies.

Movement of Earth

Rotation

• Earth rotates from west to east, taking approximately 24 hours to complete one rotation.
• This rotation causes day and night cycles, with the speed at the equator being about 1,674 km/h (1,040 mph).
• The rotation of Earth is responsible for the apparent movement of the sun, stars, and other celestial bodies in the sky.

Revolution

• Earth revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit, taking approximately 365.25 days to complete one revolution.
• This revolution is responsible for the changing of the seasons, with a speed of about 29.78 km/s (18.5 mi/s).
• The Earth's orbit is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees, affecting the distribution of sunlight and heat around the planet.

Earth's Axis

• The axis of Earth is an imaginary line running through the North and South Poles, tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to the Earth's orbit.
• The tilt of the axis is responsible for the changing of the seasons, and it remains relatively fixed in space, pointing towards the North Star (Polaris) in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The axis wobbles slightly over a period of 26,000 years due to the gravitational pull of other celestial bodies.

Learn about the Earth's movement on its axis and around the sun, including day and night cycles, speed, and celestial body movements.