Rotation vs.

Revolution

Rotation is the spinning motion of a planet on its axis.

o 1 day (24 hours) = 1 full rotation of the Earth
o The Earth’s axis is the imaginary line around which the
Earth rotates. It goes from the North Pole to the
South Pole.

Revolution is the trip a planet takes around a star.

o 1 year (about 365 days) = 1 full revolution of the Earth
around the Sun

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006

 How long is one day?

How long is one year?

Define rotation. Draw a picture to go along with the definition.

Define revolution. Draw a picture to go along with the definition.

Use the T-chart to compare rotation and revolution.

Rotation Revolution

Answer Key
Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006
 Rotation vs. Revolution

Rotation is the spinning motion of a planet on its axis.

o 1 day (24 hours) = 1 full rotation of the Earth
o The Earth’s axis is the imaginary line around which the
Earth rotates. It goes from the North Pole to the
South Pole.

The Earth spins in a

counterclockwise
direction.

Revolution is the trip a planet takes around a star.

o 1 year (about 365 days) = 1 full revolution of the Earth
around the Sun

The Earth revolves

around the Sun in a
counterclockwise
direction.

Answer Key

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006

 How long is one day? 24 hours
How long is one year? Answers may vary. Answers may
include: about 365 days, 12 months, 366 days in a leap
year, etc.

Define rotation. Draw a picture to go along with the definition.

Rotation is the spinning motion of a planet on its axis.

The Earth spins in a

counterclockwise
direction.

Define revolution. Draw a picture to go along with the definition.

Revolution is the trip a planet takes around a star.

The Earth revolves

around the Sun in a
counterclockwise
direction.

Use the T-chart to compare rotation and revolution.

Rotation Revolution
• Spinning motion of a planet • The trip a planet takes around
on its axis a star

• 1 rotation of the Earth takes • 1 revolution of the Earth around

24 hours the Sun takes about 365 days

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006