Rotation and revolution
The difference between rotation and revolution, leap years, time zones and the seasons. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.
Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz
Spin and orbit
| Rotation | Revolution | |
|---|---|---|
| What | Spinning on its own axis | Moving around the Sun |
| How long | 24 hours | 365¼ days |
| Result | Day and night | The year (and with the tilt, the seasons) |
The Earth rotates about 365 times in one revolution. Mercury’s year is shorter, because it orbits closer to the Sun. The Moon revolves around the Earth in about a month (27 days).
Time and place
- It looks as though the Sun moves, because the Earth turns beneath us.
- Because the Earth spins from west to east, the Sun seems to rise in the east in the morning, cross the sky, and set in the west in the evening.
- When it is midday in South Africa, it is night in parts of America: that side faces away from the Sun.
- A time zone is a region where everyone uses the same clock time.
- If the Earth stopped turning, day and night would each last for months.
The seasons
The Earth’s axis is tilted. When the southern hemisphere tilts towards the Sun, it is summer in South Africa and winter in Europe. At the equator, days and nights stay roughly equal all year.
Remember this and test yourself
- Rotation: the Earth spins on its axis in 24 hours: day and night.
- Revolution: the Earth goes around the Sun in 365¼ days: one year.
- Every four years is a leap year of 366 days, for the extra quarter day.
- The Earth turns from west to east: the sun rises first in Durban, then in Cape Town.
- The seasons come from the revolution and the tilted axis.
Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.
Rotation = rotate like a top (24 hours). Revolution = round the Sun (365¼ days). The ¼ becomes a leap day every 4 years.
Important words
First say what the word means, then turn the card over.
Match column A to column B
Tap a word in column A, then its meaning in column B. You can also start in column B.
True or false?
Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.
Now the real quiz!
The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.
Take the quiz: Rotation and revolution- Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
- The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.
Follows CAPS for Grade 6 Natural Sciences and Technology. Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.