The Earth's Rotation
Many people do not understand what causes day and night . Some people believe the sun goes away completely causing night. Then, when the Sun comes back it is morning. Other people believe that when it is night in their hometown, it is night everywhere. These thoughts are not right. The truth is that the Sun is not moving at all. Day and night occur because the earth rotates counter-clockwise one full turn every 24 hours. In fact, the earth is rotating at 1,040 miles per hour as you are reading this!
It may look like the Sun is moving throughout the day, but it is actually the Earth that is rotating causing the Sun to change positions from East (sunrise) to West (sunset) in the sky. Have you ever ridden a merry- go- round? While on the merry- go -round, it may look like the objects around you are moving. However, you know that you are actually the one moving, not the objects around you. Earth's rotation is the same. It is Earth that is rotating, not the sun moving, that causes day and night. The sun can only shine on one half of the Earth at a time. Therefore, when the Sun is shining on one half of the Earth, it is nighttime on the other side of the Earth. If it is nighttime here in Pennsylvania, it is daytime in China because they are on the other side of the Earth.
It may look like the Sun is moving throughout the day, but it is actually the Earth that is rotating causing the Sun to change positions from East (sunrise) to West (sunset) in the sky. Have you ever ridden a merry- go- round? While on the merry- go -round, it may look like the objects around you are moving. However, you know that you are actually the one moving, not the objects around you. Earth's rotation is the same. It is Earth that is rotating, not the sun moving, that causes day and night. The sun can only shine on one half of the Earth at a time. Therefore, when the Sun is shining on one half of the Earth, it is nighttime on the other side of the Earth. If it is nighttime here in Pennsylvania, it is daytime in China because they are on the other side of the Earth.
The picture above shows the Earth rotating . Notice how only one half of the Earth is facing the sun.
Check it out! Hit the link below to see the differences in time across our world because of the Earth's rotation.
http://www.worldtimezone.com/
Check it out! Hit the link below to see the differences in time across our world because of the Earth's rotation.
http://www.worldtimezone.com/
The pictures above are real photos that show what day and night look like on Earth from outer space. Look at all three photos and remember that the earth keeps rotating, so the areas that are in night during these photos will be in day within about 12 hours.
The video below shows the rotation of Earth and how daylight changes around the earth because of its rotation.
The video below shows the rotation of Earth and how daylight changes around the earth because of its rotation.
Time For Some Questions
1) Is it day or night on the side of the Earth that is facing the Sun?
2) Is it day or night on the side of the Earth that is not facing the Sun?
2) Is it day or night on the side of the Earth that is not facing the Sun?
Outside the Box Thinking
Include the answer to these questions on the paper you used for the other two questions on this page.
3) You are in China on vacation and want to call your grandparents at home. You want to make sure you call at a time that they are awake. If the sun is just setting in China, would it be a good time to call your grandparents in Pennsylvania?
4) Why is it important that our Earth rotates giving us day and night? What if it remained day on one side of the earth forever?
3) You are in China on vacation and want to call your grandparents at home. You want to make sure you call at a time that they are awake. If the sun is just setting in China, would it be a good time to call your grandparents in Pennsylvania?
4) Why is it important that our Earth rotates giving us day and night? What if it remained day on one side of the earth forever?