Our Earth is always moving in space, even though we cannot feel it. It moves in two ways at the same time: it spins and it travels around the Sun. These two movements are called rotation and revolution.
Rotation - the spin
Rotation is the spinning of the Earth on its own axis. The Earth takes about 24 hours (one day) to spin once. This spinning gives us day and night. The side facing the Sun has day; the other side has night.
Key idea
Rotation (one day) causes day and night. Revolution (one year) is the Earth's journey around the Sun.
Revolution - the journey
Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun. The Earth takes about 365 days (one year) to go around the Sun once. The path it follows around the Sun is called its orbit. Revolution is much slower than rotation, so one year is far longer than one day.
| Movement | Time |
|---|---|
| Rotation | About 24 hours (1 day) |
| Revolution | About 365 days (1 year) |
Remember
- Rotation gives us day and night.
- Revolution gives us one year.