Test: Motions of the Earth - UPSC MCQ

Revolution is the movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit

The circle that divides the day from the night on the globe is called the circle of illumination.

• The nights are longer than the days. It occurs on the 22nd of December.
• On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it.

On 21st March and September 23rd, direct rays of the sun fall on the equator. At this position, neither of the poles is tilted towards the sun.

EQUINOX

• The whole earth experiences equal days and equal nights. It occurs on 21st March and September 23^rd.

Statement 1 is incorrect - Earth spins around its axis, just as a top spins around its spindle. This spinning movement is called the Earth's rotation.

Statement 2 is incorrect -  At the same time that the Earth spins on its axis, it also orbits or revolves around the Sun. This movement is called the revolution.

The correct options is B. Statement 1 and Statement 4
Life would not have been possible. There would be no day and night.
If Earth did not rotate on its axis, one side would always face the Sun while the other side would be away from the Sun. Thus, one side would become very hot and the other side would become very cold. Ultimately, life would not have been possible under such circumstances. However, the formation of seasons and the occurrence of leap years take place due to the revolution of the Earth and not due to the rotation of the Earth.

• The nights are longer than the days during the winter solstice. It occurs on the 22nd of December.
• On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it.

EQUINOX

• The whole earth experiences equal days and equal nights. It occurs on 21st March and September 23^rd.
• On 21st March and September 23rd, direct rays of the sun fall on the equator. At this position, neither of the poles is tilted towards the sun.

►Statement 1 is incorrect - Earth takes 365¼ days for it to revolve around the sun.

►Statement 2 is correct - Earth goes around the sun in an elliptical orbit. Note that throughout its orbit, the earth is inclined in the same direction.