Understanding Leap Years

The video explains why leap years exist, starting with the basic concept of adding an extra day to February every four years. It discusses the historical development of the calendar, which was designed to match Earth's orbit around the sun, taking approximately 365 days. However, since a year is actually about 365 days and 6 hours, leap years were introduced to account for this discrepancy. Without leap years, the calendar would gradually fall out of sync with the seasons. The video concludes with a call to curiosity and a preview of future topics.

What is a leap year?

• A year with 366 days

• A year with 364 days

• A year with 365 days

• A year with 367 days

How often do we add an extra day to the calendar?

• Every year

• Every four years

• Every five years

• Every two years

Why does our calendar have 365 days?

• It aligns with the lunar cycle

• It's a random number

• It was decided by ancient astronomers

• It matches the Earth's orbit around the sun

What would happen if we didn't have leap years?

• The seasons would remain the same

• The months would become longer

• The calendar would eventually misalign with the seasons

• The Earth would rotate faster

How long does it actually take for the Earth to orbit the sun?

• 364 days

• 366 days

• 365 days and 6 hours

• Exactly 365 days

What is one proposed alternative to adding a leap day every four years?

• Adding a week every decade

• Adding a day every two years

• Ignoring the extra hours

• Adding a six-hour day each year

Why was the current leap year system chosen over other solutions?

• It was the most cost-effective

• It was the most traditional

• It was the simplest solution

• It was the most accurate

What is the main purpose of a leap year?

• To celebrate an extra holiday

• To keep the calendar aligned with the Earth's orbit

• To adjust for the lunar cycle

• To make February longer

What is the effect of ignoring the extra six hours each year?

• No effect

• The calendar would eventually misalign with the seasons

• The months would become shorter

• The Earth would slow down

What are the topics for the next episode's questions?

• Why are lemons so sour?

• How does cotton get turned into clothing?

• Why do we have tears when we cry?

• All of the above