Wiki Page, B7: World Geography and Civilizations, term 1-1: Rotation and Revolution

Wiki Page
2013-10-21T10:39:23-06:00

rotation - As the earth moves through space it spins on its axis like a top. The earth completes one rotation in approximately twenty-four hours. On the side that faces the sun, it is daytime. On the side turned away, it is night. The earth spins from west to east, so the sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west.

axis - Invisible line through the center of the earth from pole to pole.

revolution - The earth moves around the sun in a nearly circular path called an orbit. A revolution is one complete orbit around the sun. The earth completes one revolution every 365 1/4 days - the length of a year. To account for the quarter day, every four years we make the year 366 days long by adding one day to the month of February. This is known as Leap Year.