Exploring Earth's Rotation and Revolution
- 2. What is Earth's Rotation? Rotation is the spinning of Earth on its imaginary axis. One complete rotation takes approximately 24 hours, and it causes day and night.
- 3. What is Earth's Rotation? Key Points: Earth rotates from west to east. The side facing the Sun has daytime, while the side facing away has nighttime. Earth rotates at about 1,670 kilometers per hour (1,040 mph) at the equator. Example: When it’s daytime in Guatemala, it’s nighttime on the other side of the planet like in Australia.
- 4. The Sun doesn’t actually “move” across the sky — it’s Earth that’s spinning! A full rotation (spin) = 24 hours. Different parts of the Earth face the Sun throughout the day, creating sunrise, noon, sunset, and night. How Rotation Causes Day and Night
- 5. Revolution is Earth’s movement around the Sun in a nearly circular path called an orbit. It takes about 365.25 days to complete — that’s one year. What is Earth's Revolution?
- 6. Key Points Revolution causes the length of a year and plays a big role in creating the seasons (we'll cover seasons next week). The extra 0.25 days each year = 1 extra day every 4 years →Leap Year! Earth’s orbit is not a perfect circle — it's slightly elliptical.
- 7. Feature 🌎Rotation ☀️Revolution What is it? Spinning of Earth on its axis Orbit of Earth around the Sun Time it takes 24 hours (1 day) 365.25 days (1 year) Causes Day and night Seasons and the length of the year Speed ~1,670 km/h (1,040 mph) at equator ~107,000 km/h (66,600 mph) Rotation vs. Revolution “Rotation = Day, Revolution = Year”
- 8. Draw a diagram showing Earth and the Sun. Label the following on the diagram: 1. - Earth 2. - Axis 3. - Direction of Rotation 4. - Day Side 5. - Night Side 6. - Sun Diagram Labeling Activity
- 9. 1. What is Earth's rotation? How long does it take? 2. What is Earth's revolution? How long does it take? 3. Which motion causes day and night? 4. Which motion causes the length of the year? 5. Why does the Sun appear to rise in the east and set in the west? 6. Why don’t we feel Earth’s movement as it rotates and revolves? Check for Understanding!
- 10. 1. In your own words, describe the difference between rotation and revolution. 2. How long does it take Earth to rotate once? 3. How long does it take Earth to revolve around the Sun? 4. What would happen if Earth stopped rotating? 5. What is one new fact you learned today that surprised you? EXIT TICKET