MOTIONS OF THE EARTH

You have learnt that all planets in the Solar System have two types of

motion. They spin on their axis and also go around the Sun. The earth,

too, follows this pattern.

The spinning movement of the earth on its axis is called Rotation.

The movement of the earth around the Sun along a fixed path or orbit is

called Revolution

ROTATION

• Earth rotates on its axis from west to east

• Axis is an imaginary line passes through the

center, joining the North and South Poles

• Earth’s axis is not vertical, but tilted

• It is inclined at an angle of 23 ½ º, known as

inclination of the earth’s axis

• The inclination is always towards the same direction i.e. towards

the polar star

• The process of the sun rising from the east to setting in the west is

due to rotation of the earth

• It takes 24 hours or one day to complete one rotation

• Since the Earth is spherical in shape, only half of it gets light from

the Sun at any time.

• The half which faces the Sun experiences day, while the other half

has night.
 • The circle of illumination is the line which separates the lighted

part of the Earth from the part which is in

darkness.

• The area of the earth crossing the circle of

illumination to come from darkness into

light is experiencing sunrise and that area

which is crossing from light into darkness

experiences sunset

Effects of Rotation – 1.Occurrence of day and night

2. Sunrise in the east and sunset in the west

3. Change in direction of winds

4. Formation of ocean currents

5. Flattening of the earth at the poles and bulging at

the Equator

Rotation and Time:

• The earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation.

• During this time, all 360 lines of longitude pass once in front of the

sun.

• Therefore, if we divide 24 hours or 1440 minutes by 360, we get

a time difference of 4 minutes between two lines of longitude.

• Thus, if we know the longitude a place is located on, we can know

the time difference between that place and the place where we are

• We can also say what time of day or night it will be in that place.
REVOLUTION

• The motion of the earth moving around the sun on fixed path is

called revolution

• Earth is moving around the Sun at about 67,000 miles per hour

• It takes 365 days and 6 hours to complete one revolution

 The balance of about 6 hours is calculated to add one extra day

every four years

• This additional day is added to the month of February thus it has

29 days and that year has 366 days

• The extra day is called leap day and the year is called leap year

Effects of Revolution – 1. Variation in the length of days and night

2. Formation of Temperature zones

3. Occurrence of seasons

1. Variation in the length of days and night – This happens because of

the inclination of Earth’s axis.

2. Formation of Temperature Zones - The region between the Tropics

receives vertical rays of the sun throughout the year. Hence this portion

of the Earth has summer-like conditions all year. On the other hand, the

Polar Regions receive slanting rays of the Sun all year and so the

temperatures are always freezing. Hence, three distinct temperature

zones have developed on Earth: the Torrid or Tropical Zone, the

Temperate Zone and the Frigid Zone.

revolution of the earth and the inclination of Earth’s axis.

Cycle of Seasons

We divide a year into 4 seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

These seasons always follow each other and occur at a fixed time of the

year. Four days in the year mark the peak of that particular season.
SUMMER SOLSTICE – 21ST JUNE

• the North hemisphere is inclined towards the sun,

• the rays of the sun fall vertically over the Tropic of Cancer

• angle of inclination of the sun rays is much less in the southern

hemisphere

• duration of day is longer than 12 hours in Northern hemisphere

• 24hours of day at the North Pole

• position marks summer season in the northern hemisphere and

winter in the southern hemisphere

WINTER SOLSTICE – 22ND DECEMBER

• the South hemisphere is inclined towards the sun,

• the rays of the sun fall vertically over the Tropic of Capricorn
 • angle of inclination of the sun rays is much less in the northern

hemisphere

• duration of day is longer than 12 hours in Southern hemisphere

• 24hours of day at the South Pole

• position marks summer season in the southern hemisphere and

summer in the southern hemisphere

EQUINOX DAYS

• on 21 March and 22 September, the sun rays are over head at the

equator

• all places on the earth have 12 hours of night

• position corresponds with spring season in the northern hemisphere

and autumn season in the southern hemisphere

• Position on 22nd September is called - Autumn Equinox