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Video Explaining Rotation and Revolution

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Video Explaining Rotation and Revolution

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Difference between rotation and revolution

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We have heard the terms rotation and revolution associated with celestial objects. Let us know more about rotation and revolution and the difference between rotation and revolution.

What is Rotation?

A rotation is a circular movement of an object around a centre of rotation. If three-dimensional objects like the earth, moon and other planets always rotate around an imaginary line, it is called a rotation axis. If the axis passes through the body's centre of mass, the body is said to rotate upon itself or spin.

What is Revolution?

Revolution is often used as a synonym for rotation. However, in many fields like astronomy and its related subjects, revolution is referred to as an orbital revolution. It is used when one body moves around another, while rotation means moving around the axis. For example, the Moon revolves around the Earth, and the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Rotation of the Earth

Earth rotates on its axis from west to east, and the Sun and the Moon appear to move from east to west across the sky. The spinning of the Earth around its axis is called 'rotation'. The axis has an angle of 23 1/2º and is perpendicular to the plane of Earth's orbit. This means the Earth is tilted on its axis, and because of this tilt, the northern and southern hemispheres lean in a direction away from the Sun. The rotation of the Earth divides it into a lit-up half and a dark half, which gives rise to day and night. The direction of the Earth's rotation depends on the direction of viewing. When viewed looking down from the North Pole, Earth spins counterclockwise. On the contrary, when viewed looking down from the south pole, the earth spins in the clockwise direction.

Importance of Earth Rotation

Some of the importance of the rotation of the Earth are listed below:

The Earth's rotation creates the diurnal cycle of lightness and darkness, temperature and humidity changes.

The Earth's rotation causes tides in the oceans and seas.

Revolution of the Earth

The movement of the Earth around the Sun in a fixed path is called a revolution. The Earth revolves from west to east, i.e., in the anticlockwise direction. The one revolution of the Earth around the Sun takes around one year or precisely 365.242 days. The revolution speed of the earth is 30 km/s⁻¹.

Importance of Revolution

Revolution causes seasons.

Revolution creates perihelion and aphelion. Perihelion occurs when the Earth is closest to the Sun. Aphelion occurs when the Earth is far from the Sun.

Revolution has a direct influence on the varied length of day and night time. The duration of days and nights are the same at the equator. This is known as the equinox. The duration of days and nights vary in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. This is known as solstices.

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Rotation and Revolution of Planets

Difference Between Rotation and Revolution

The table given below provides the basic differences between rotation and revolution.

Rotation of the Earth is turning on its axis.

Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun.

The Earth takes 24 hours to complete a rotation with respect to the sun.

The Earth takes a full year (365 days) for one complete revolution around the Sun

The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted by 23.5 degrees. This tilt causes the different seasons of the year.

The path of the Earth moving around the Sun is called an orbit. The Earth's orbit is elliptical.

Watch the video below to understand what would happen if the Earth stopped spinning

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

What is meant by rotation?

A rotation is a circular movement of an object around a centre of rotation.

What is meant by revolution?

Revolution occurs when one body moves around another, while rotation means moving around the axis. For example, the Moon revolves around the Earth, and the Earth revolves around the Sun.

In this video, we have provided important questions and concepts of Rotation for JEE Advanced 2023

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Earth Rotation and Revolution - Difference between Rotation and Revolution, FAQs

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The Earth takes twenty-four hours to complete a rotation, while it takes 365 days for the Earth to complete a revolution. Revolution happens when one body moves around another, while rotation is the movement of a body around its own axis.

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The Earth's revolution is when the Earth SPINS around the Sun in a circle. It would be like if you put a ball on the ground and walked around it. The Earth's revolution causes leap year and Seasons. That takes 365.25 days which is about 1 year.

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The Earth's rotation is when it makes a complete TURN on it's axis. So it's like when you spin one of those spinner tops. It stays in one spot but turns. The Earth's rotation is what causes Day and Night. That takes 24 hours which is about one day.