SfC Home > Physical Science > Astronomy >
Motion of the Earth
by Ron Kurtus (updated 18 January 2022)
One of the important characteristics of the Earth is its motion or movement. Seeing the Sun move through the sky is a result of the fact that the Earth rotates on its axis.
As with all planets in our Solar System, the Earth orbits or moves around the Sun. The Earth's axis is slightly tilted with respect to its orbit around the Sun, resulting in the change of seasons. The Earth also follows the Sun in its motion through space. The various motions result in days, seasons and years.
Questions you may have include:
- How long is a single rotation of the Earth on its axis?
- What factors does revolving around the Sun affect?
- What other motions does the Earth have?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Rotates on its axis
The Earth is a sphere that rotates, on its axis, passing through the North and South Poles. The rotation is in a counterclockwise direction, looking down at the North Pole.
The time it takes for the Earth to make a complete rotation is approximately 24 hours (exactly 23.934 hours). This rotation results in daytime when an area is facing the Sun and nighttime when an area is facing away from the Sun.
Earth rotates on its axis
Since we are on Earth, we do not sense its rotation, but we experience it by observing the relative motion of the Sun. It is similar to what you experience when you are sitting in a moving automobile and see the surroundings move by.
Revolves around the Sun
The Earth revolves around the Sun, in a counterclockwise direction, once every 365.25 days. Its velocity in space in its orbit is about 18.5 miles per second.
The shape of the orbit is a slight ellipse. Seldom—if ever—is an astronomical orbit a true circle.
Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit
Leap years
Since a year has been designated as 365 days, a day is added every 4 years to even things out. That year is called a "Leap Year" and occurs on years divisible by 4, such as 2004. The extra day in a leap year is added in February.
Actually, the period is slightly less than 365.25 days. Thus a leap year is any year divisible by 4, except for years that are both divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400. Therefore, the year 2000 was a leap year, but the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. That is complicated, but then again, who wants things easy?
Seasons
The axis of the Earth is on a slight tilt with respect to the orbit around the Sun. That tilt is always in the same direction and results in the changing seasons on the Earth.
Tilt of the Earth is in the same direction
The reason the seasons change has to do with how direct the Sun is shining, as well as the length of a day.
Other motion
Besides spinning on its axis and revolving around the Sun, the Earth also follows the Sun's movement through the Milky Way galaxy. The Sun and its planets are moving toward the star Vega at a velocity of about 12 miles per second. The Sun and Vega are rotating about the center of the Milky Way at about 150 miles per second.
The Milky Way—in turn—is moving through space, as part of the apparent expansion of the Universe. Its estimate velocity is thousands of miles per second depending on which galaxy you compare it.
Since the distances are so great, we will never notice these motions with respect to the other stars and galaxies in the immense Universe.
Summary
The Earth spins on its axis and revolves around the Sun. The tilt of its axis with respect to the Sun causes the Earth's seasons. The Earth also follows the Sun's rotation around the center of the Milky Way galaxy, which is moving through space.
Be honest and honorable
Resources and references
Websites
Earth Facts and Figures - From NASA
The Earth - Details from Nine-Planets website
Space Weather - News about Earth-Sun environment
Books
(Notice: The School for Champions may earn commissions from book purchases)
Top-rated books on Earth Astronomy
Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is:
www.school-for-champions.com/astronomy/
earth_motion.htm
Please include it as a link on your website or as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.
Where are you now?
Motion of the Earth