Question

What is meant by rotation and revolution of a planet ?

Answer 1

Hint: Rotation of any object refers to the object spinning about its own axis like a spinning top. On the other hand, revolution refers to an object’s orbital motion around another object. For example, in a baseball match the batter revolves/circles around the four bases after hitting the ball to score runs.

Complete answer:
First let us look at the term rotation and revolution and their meanings. The word "rotation" refers to the circular movement of an object around a fixed point, that is, turning around its own axis. The rotational axis is a hypothetical line along which a three-dimensional object rotates. One best example of rotation in daily life is the rotation of a fan. A fan rotates and notes that it stays in the same position. Only the points on its surface change their position.

In our solar system all the planets rotate around their own axes. Almost all of them rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. And this rotation results in the creation of day and night. Some regions are exposed to sun at some point of time. But due to constant rotation the other region also receives the sunlight and this differentiates night from day. Also, the word "revolution" refers to a motion in which an object moves in a fixed path or orbit in a circular direction around an object or centre.

It entails travelling around an axis that is external to the object, known as the external axis. All planets revolve around the sun and the time taken to revolve is termed as its time period. The time period of earth is approximately 365 days which is a year. Note that every year seasons repeat themselves. And this is because the revolution is responsible for the exposure of sunlight, ocean currents, wind currents, etc.

Note: The fact that almost all of our solar system's revolutions and rotations are in the same direction is one of its most impressive features. The planets are spinning around the sun and rotating counterclockwise around their axes from a position far above the solar system's north pole. This holds true for asteroids as well. The exceptions include Venus and Uranus which rotates clockwise.