The Earth goes round the Sun

The idea

While rotating, the Earth also revolves around the Sun in an orbit that is nearly circular when viewed from the top, completing one revolution in about 365 days and 6 hours.

A long journey

While it spins, the Earth also travels round the Sun.

How long do you think one trip round the Sun takes?

• About one year
• About one month
• About one day

Follow the Earth

Slide the days. The picture is a view from the top and is not to scale.

A year

The orbit is nearly a circle. One full trip takes about 365 days and 6 hours. That is one year.

While rotating, the Earth also revolves around the Sun in an orbit that is nearly circular when viewed from the top, completing one revolution in about 365 days and 6 hours.

Notes

While rotating, the Earth also revolves around the Sun in an orbit that is nearly circular when viewed from the top, completing one revolution in about 365 days and 6 hours.

Check yourself

About how many days does the Earth take to go round the Sun once?

Answer: 365 days

About 365 days, and 6 hours more.

Seen from the top, the Earth’s orbit is …

While it goes round the Sun, the Earth also …

Which takes longer?

• nearly a circle — correct. Yes! It is nearly circular.
• a straight line. An orbit is a path that goes round. It is not a straight line.
• a square. The orbit is not a square. It is nearly a circle.
• goes round the Moon. The Moon goes round the Earth. The Earth does not go round the Moon.
• rotates on its own axis — correct. Yes! It rotates and revolves at the same time.
• stops turning. The Earth keeps rotating while it revolves.
• They take the same time. A rotation takes about 24 hours and a revolution about 365 days and 6 hours.
• One rotation of the Earth. One rotation takes about 24 hours, much less than a year.
• One revolution of the Earth round the Sun — correct. Yes! It takes about 365 days and 6 hours.