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Rotation vs. Revolution: What's the Difference?

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Read the comparison below, or explore it visually. Create a visual lesson comparing rotation and revolution using available credits or plan allowance.

Rotation is Earth spinning on its own axis, which takes about 24 hours and causes day and night, while revolution is Earth travelling in an orbit around the Sun, which takes about 365¼ days and, together with Earth's tilted axis, causes the seasons. Earth does both at once, spinning from west to east as it circles the Sun.

At a glance

RotationRevolution
MotionSpinning on its own axisMoving in an orbit around the Sun
Time takenAbout 24 hours: one dayAbout 365¼ days: one year
Main effectDay and night; Sun rises in the eastSeasons, with the tilted axis; the year
SpeedAbout 1,670 km/h at the equatorAbout 30 km/s along its orbit
Leftover effectBulge at the equator; winds and currents curveExtra quarter day adds a leap day every 4 years

Which should you use?

Rotation

Rotation explains everyday cycles, such as sunrise reaching Arunachal Pradesh in India's east nearly two hours before it reaches Gujarat in the west.

Revolution

Revolution explains yearly cycles, such as the shift from summer to winter, the changing night-sky constellations and the extra day added to February in leap years.

Frequently asked questions

Why don't we feel Earth rotating?
Earth spins at a steady speed, and everything on it, including the air, moves along at the same speed. The body senses changes in speed or direction, not steady motion, so with no sudden jolts the spin goes unnoticed.
Does the Moon rotate?
Yes. The Moon rotates once on its axis in the same time it takes to revolve once around Earth, about 27 days. Because both motions match, the same side always faces Earth, which is why we never see the far side from the ground.
Is a day exactly 24 hours?
A solar day, from noon to noon, averages 24 hours. One full spin relative to the distant stars takes about 23 hours 56 minutes; the extra four minutes are needed because Earth moves along its orbit and must turn a little further to face the Sun again.