Revolution vs Rotation of earth and its effect on weather, day and time
Revolution vs Rotation of earth :
Rotation of the earth describes the spinning of the earth around
its axis, resulting in the 24 hour phenomenon of day and night
over the earth.
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Revolution on the other hand describes the movement of the
earth around the sun over a period of one year, causing seasons to
occur.
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Rotation of the earth causes difference in time over countries
and continents. The parts of the earth that are in front of the
sun experience day, while the part of the earth away from the
sun has night.
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Revolution depending upon which hemisphere of the earth
is closer to the sun, and which one is farther, we have summer
and winter respectively. When both the hemispheres are
equidistant from the sun there is spring or autumn or fall.
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Rotation of earth takes place on its axis while revolution is its
motion around sun.
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Rotation is completed in 24 hrs while revolution takes 365 days
for completion.
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The earth rotates around its axis at approximately 15 angular
degrees per hour.
For one complete revolution the earth takes 365.25 days in a
slightly elliptical orbit, which has the sun at one focal point of
the ellipse.
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Rotation & Revolution effect on weather, day and time
Seasons happen because the Earth spins around an axis that is
tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. Because of this tilt, different
parts of the Earth point towards or away from the Sun at
different times of the year.
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The rotation of the earth around its axis follows the west to
east path. The path of the earth around the sun during
revolution is an ellipse rather than a circle and this is the reason
why the earth is closer to the sun sometimes and farther from it
other times, thus causing seasonal fluctuations in weather
known as seasons.
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For example :
Around the June month, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted
towards the Sun and gets more of the Sun’s direct rays. This is
why Northern Hemisphere residents experience summer in the
months of June, July and August.
At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere points away
from the Sun.
So, for people in the Southern Hemisphere June, July, and
August are winter months.
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The opposite occurs around the December Solstice when the
Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun and the Northern
Hemisphere is tilted away.
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The impact of rotation on earth goes far beyond causing day
and night.
It in fact impacts upon the shape of the earth, which is
an oblate spheroid, ocean depth and tectonic plate movement,
wind direction, global temperature patterns, ocean currents and
precipitation.
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Myth :
Many people believe that Earth is closer to the sun in the
summer and that is why it is hotter. And, likewise, they think Earth is
farthest from the sun in the winter. Although this idea makes sense
But it is incorrect.
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Correct Explanation of Myth :
It is true that Earth’s orbit is not a perfect
circle. It is a bit lop-sided. During part of the year, Earth is closer
to the sun than at other times. However, in the Northern
Hemisphere, we are having winter when Earth is closest to the
sun and summer when it is farthest away! Compared with how
far away the sun is, this change in Earth’s distance throughout
the year does not make much difference to our weather.
There is a different reason for Earth’s seasons.
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Earth’s axis is an imaginary pole going right through the center
of Earth from “top” to “bottom.” Earth spins around this pole,
making one complete turn each day. That is why we have day
and night, and why every part of Earth’s surface gets some of
each.
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Earth has seasons because its axis doesn’t stand up straight.
Long, long ago, when Earth was young, it is thought that
something big hit Earth and knocked it off-kilter.
So instead of rotating with its axis straight up and down,
it leans over a bit.
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By the way, that big thing that hit Earth is called Theia. It also
blasted a big hole in the surface. That big hit sent a huge amount
of dust and rubble into orbit. Most scientists think that that
rubble, in time, became our Moon.
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As Earth orbits the sun, its tilted axis always points in the same
direction. So, throughout the year, different parts of Earth get
the sun’s direct rays.
Sometimes it is the North Pole tilting toward the sun
(around June) and sometimes it is the South Pole tilting toward
the sun (around December).
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It is summer in June in the Northern Hemisphere because the
sun’s rays hit that part of Earth more directly than at any other
time of the year. It is winter in December in the Northern
Hemisphere, because that is when it is the South Pole’s turn to
be tilted toward the sun.
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Remember :
Due to rotation, there is a difference in the times across nations in the world.
