Axis of rotation facts for kids
The Axis of rotation is an imaginary line. It goes right through the middle of a spinning object, like a planet. This line is what the object spins around. For our Earth, this imaginary line goes through the North Pole, the very center of Earth, and then out through the South Pole. The Earth spins completely around this axis once every 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. This spinning is what gives us day and night!
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What is an Axis of Rotation?
Imagine you have a toy top. When you spin it, it twirls around a straight line that goes from its pointy bottom to its top. That imaginary line is its axis of rotation! In space, planets, moons, and even stars all spin around their own imaginary axes. This axis always passes through the object's center.
Earth's Special Axis
Earth's axis of rotation is super important for life on our planet. It points almost directly at the star Polaris, also known as the North Star. This is why Polaris seems to stay still in the night sky while other stars appear to move. As Earth spins around its axis, different parts of the planet face the Sun. When your part of Earth faces the Sun, it's daytime. When it faces away, it's nighttime!
How Fast Does Earth Spin?
Earth spins very fast! It completes one full turn on its axis in just under 24 hours. This is what we call a day. Because of this spin, places near the equator are actually moving at about 1,670 kilometers per hour (1,038 miles per hour)! Even though we don't feel it, we are always moving with our planet.
Related pages
Images for kids
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An example of rotation. Each part of the worm drive—both the worm and the worm gear—is rotating on its own axis.
See also
In Spanish: Movimiento de rotación para niños
