Earth's Rotation and Revolution

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Earth’s Rotation and Revolution

Earth is a planet that moves in two important ways: rotation and revolution.

Rotation is when Earth spins around its own axis. This axis is an imaginary line that goes from the North Pole to
the South Pole. Earth takes about 24 hours to complete one full rotation. This spinning causes day and night.
When one side of Earth faces the Sun, it is daytime, while the other side, which is in shadow, experiences
nighttime.

Revolution, on the other hand, is when Earth moves around the Sun. This journey takes about 365 days to
complete one full revolution. As Earth orbits the Sun, it travels in a circular path, and this movement is what gives
us the seasons. The tilt of Earth’s axis (about 23.5 degrees) is responsible for the changes in seasons. For
example, during summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, causing longer
days and warmer temperatures.

Understanding these movements helps us comprehend how time is measured and how different seasons occur
on our planet.

Question:

If Earth didn’t rotate, how would our daily lives be different? Think about things like day and night, and how we might plan
our activities.

The Earth moves in two different ways in space.

The Earth rotates and revolves.

Earth’s Movement

Revolution

(orbit)

365.25 days

Rotation (spin)

24 hours

There is an imaginary line
through the center of the

Earth called the axis.

Earth’s Rotation

The axis extends from north

to south.

The axis is at a tilt of

23.5 degrees.

Earth spins on its axis. This
spinning is called Earth’s
rotation.

Earth’s Rotation

It takes the Earth 24 hours, or 1 day, to complete one rotation on its axis.

When the side of the Earth that is facing the Sun is experiencing daytime, the side

of the Earth that is facing away from the Sun is experiencing night-time.

Multiple Choice

Choose your answer below:

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Students are using a globe to learn about day

and night.

Why is a globe a helpful tool?

• It models the appearance of the Sun at

  different times throughout the day.

• It models the phases of the moon.

• It models Earth’s rotation on its axis.

• It models Earth’s revolution around the Sun.

The Earth revolves around

the Sun.

Earth’s Revolution

This takes approximately 365

days, or 1 year.

The path the Earth takes
around the sun is called

Earth’s ‘orbit’.

The Earth’s orbit is in an

elliptical shape.

Response Cards

​Explain the difference between Earth's rotation and revolution. How does the rotation affect the planet differently than the revolution?

No matter what day of
the year it is, the
equator always
experiences 12 hours of
daylight and 12 hours of
nighttime per day.

The poles receive 24
hours of daylight for 6
months in the summer
and 24 hours of
nighttime for 6 months
in the winter.

N

S

Equator

night
time

daytime

​The tilt of Earth's access keeps the North or South pole in the direct path of the Sun's light, the equator is in the path of rotation so it either faces towards the sun or away from the sun every day (day and night cycle).

Direct/ Indirect Sunlight

The amount of daylight
depend on what part of
the Earth’s tilt is facing

towards the sun

throughout the year

and how much direct or

indirect sunlight the
part of the Earth is

receiving.

Northern

Hemisphere

Southern

Hemisphere

Equator

Open Ended

Why does the equator receive different amounts of sunlight in comparison to the North and South poles of planet Earth?

Revolution Effects on Daylight and Seasons

Earth’s seasons are caused by earth’s tilted axis and earth’s

revolution around the sun. When the axis is tilted away from the sun
there is less daylight hours light in the winter. When the axis is point

towards the sun there is more daylight hours, like in the summer.

Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere

The seasons are created through the combination of the Earth’s revolution

and the tilt of the axis.

Autumn

Spring

Spring

Autumn

Winter

Summer

Summer

Winter

​Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. When the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted away from the Sun, we will experience winter.

​When the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun, we will experience summer. At the same time the Northern Hemisphere will be experiencing winter.

Multiple Choice

When the Northern Hemisphere of Earth is leaning away from the Sun, What season is the Southern Hemisphere experiencing?

• Summer

• Winter

• Spring

• Fall

Seasons in the Northern Hemisphere

The seasons are created through the combination of the

Earth’s revolution and the tilt of the axis.

Autumn

Spring

Spring

Autumn

Winter

Summe
r

Summe
r

Winter

Countries such as
the United States
are in the Northern
Hemisphere. When

the Northern

Hemisphere of the
Earth is tilted away

from the Sun,

people in
the these
regions are

experiencing winter.

When the Northern
Hemisphere of the

Earth is tilted

toward the Sun,
people in these

regions are
experiencing

summer. At the
same time the

Southern

Hemisphere will be

experiencing

winter.

Multiple Choice

Select your answer below:

• The moon’s rotation on its axis causing day and night

• Earth’s orbit around the sun causing day and night

• The sun’s orbit around Earth causing day and night

• The Earth’s rotation on its axis causing day and night

Multiple Choice

A teacher asked a student to write 5 statements

about day and night. The student’s statements

are shown in the box below.

1. Earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night.

2. One day on Earth lasts 365 days.

3. When the moon is directly between Earth and the Sun,

we do not experience night.

4. Half of Earth experiences darkness while the other half

experiences light.

5. The Sun appears to rise in the East and set in the West.

Which of the statements are correct?

• Statements 1, 3, and 5 only

• Statements 2 and 4 only

• Statements 1 and 5 only

• Statements 1, 4, and 5 only