Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

The earth not only orbits around the sun, but also spins round her axis. How long does one complete turn of the earth round her axis take?

  1. Less than 24 hours

  2. Exactly 24 hours

  3. More than 24 hours

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Earth's actual rotation period (sidereal day) is approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds, which is less than 24 hours. The 24-hour solar day is slightly longer because Earth must rotate a bit extra to face the sun again due to its orbital motion. This is why stars rise about 4 minutes earlier each night.

Keep practicing — related questions