earth takes 24 hours for one rotation, why isn't 12 noon, 12 midnight when we're on the other side of the sun?

Answer 1

If I understand your question correctly, the answer is that in 24 hours the earth makes slightly more than one rotation. Because of the movement of the earth around the sun, the earth has to rotate about 361 degrees in order for the sun to be directly over the same point. In half a year, the earth will have rotated an extra 180 degrees so that noon and midnight are at the correct time.

The actual length of time it takes for the earth to make one complete rotation on its axis (if you line things up with "fixed" stars) is 23.934 hours.

Answer 2

Earth is rotating about its own axis with a single rotation of earth taking 24 hours. Earth is also rotating around the sun with a single rotation around the sun taking 1 year. 6 months from now we will be in an antipolar (opposite or directly on the other side) position in our orbit around the sun. But it doesn't really matter where we are in our orbit around the sun in terms of the time of day; that is determined by where we are on earth in relation to the daily 24 hour long spin of the planet. If we are directly facing the sun during this 24 hour spin time, then the time will be 12 noon and the sun will be at the highest point in the sky over us. If we are directly opposite of the sun, then we will be at midnight. Incidentally, during our 1 year orbit around the sun, the tilt of the earth changes (that is the axis that the earth spins around tilts). Did you know that during summer in the United States (the northern hemispere), earth is actually farther away from the sun then during winter but the norther hemisphere is tilted so that during any 24 hour rotations of earth more sun reaches the norther part of the planet thus making summer in the norther hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. This effect is most extreme at the north pole where the axis of rotation for earth is and this part of the earth is almost directly facing the sun at all times. This explains the 20 hour long days at the north pole in suimmer as well as the 20 hour long nights at this pole in winter (when the other pole is now oriente towards the sun).

Answer 3

because the 24 hour system is based on sidereal position or relation to the sun.

ie it takes 24 hour for the earth to spin 1 rotation relative to the sun as it is moving in its orbit, not 1 revolution like a stationary object

Draw the sun on a piece of paper

draw the earth at 6 oclock it its orbit around the sun

draw an arrow from the center of earth pointing to the center of the sun

now draw another earth at the 530 position of the sun with another arrow pointing to the sun

it takes 24 hours for the earth to turn to a point where the sun is once again at directly above you

Answer 4

The Earth rotates on it's axis as it moves through space.

The Earth Revolves around the sun.

It takes earth 24 hours to complete 1 rotation but it takes Earth 365.25 days to revolve around the Sun.

Answer 5

The earth spins like a top, it takes 24 hours to go one time around. The earth is also going around the sun, it takes 365 days to go around the sun, 365 days in a year.

Have an adult show you with an example

Answer 6

A sidereal day is 23 hours 56 minutes.

The extra 4 minutes covers the orbital rotation of the earth around the sun.

4 minutes X 365 days = 1460 minutes = 24.333 hours (roughly)

Answer 7

To get to the other side of the sun takes half a year.

There are two revolutions involved. The earth goes around the sun once a year. But, every day, it spins on its own axis once.

Does that help?

Answer 8

The rotation of the earth around the sun is separate from the earth's rotation on its own axis.

Answer 9

interesting question, but keep in mind that it is not a flawless method of keep time which is why we have leap years and day light savings. overall it is pretty close to being at it's extremes at 12 and 12. At the same time, there are large time ZONEs, the sun may be at its peek at 12 in one part of a time zone when it isnt until 12:10 in another section of that same time zone. Plus, by roatating on an axis you arise with even more complications

Answer 10

the earth rotates on an axis...depending where your at on the planet, you'll only be exposed to "one" side of the sun or in that case the moon if you stand in one place. theoretically if you choose to chase the sun, and had the ability, you could see the other side of the sun because it would never set. i see it as long as it keeps shining, I'm worried about the other side.