Movements of the Earth

We know the Earth orbits the sun, but it also spins as it orbits. We call this spinning movement rotation. It takes the Earth 24 hours to make one complete rotation, and this gives us day and night.

It takes the Earth one year to orbit the sun. The Earth is not upright, it is tilted. When the North Pole, end of the Earth's axis, is tilted towards the sun, it is summer in the northern hemisphere. The days are long and the nights are short. At this time the South Pole is tilted away from the sun, and it is winter in the southern hemispere. When the North pole is itlted away from the sun, it is winter in the northern hemispeher. The days are short and the nights are long.

In spring and autumn, the Earth is still tilted, but not directly towards or away from the sun. As a result , the days are about as long as the nights.

Have a look to these links, and enjoy them.

Earth revolves around the sun

Geographical skills