A sidereal day is defined as the amount of time it takes for the Earth to rotate
ID: 232340 • Letter: A
Question
A sidereal day is defined as the amount of time it takes for the Earth to rotate exactly 360° about its axis with respect to the stars. Since Earth rotates more than 360° in a solar day, a sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than a solar day. Imagine that some time in the future, the direction that Earth orbits the Sun is somehow reversed so it orbits at the same speed, but in a clockwise direction. The rotation of the Earth about its own axis remains counterclockwise at the same rate.
a. Through how many degrees will Earth now rotate in a sidereal day? Is the sidereal day now longer, shorter, or the same length as a sidereal day before Earth’s orbit changed? b. Through how many degrees will Earth now rotate in a solar day? Is a solar day now longer, shorter, or the same length as a solar day before Earth's orbit changed?
Explanation / Answer
a. Earth will now rotate in 366o in a sidereal day. Sidereal day is longer than sidereal day before Earth’s orbit changed.
b. Earth will now rotate in 360o in a solar day. Solar day is shorter than solar day before Earth’s orbit changed.
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