The fact that the position of the constellations seems to change throughout the year is evidence that?

Question

A. Earth is rotating.
B. Earth is revolving.
C. the sun is rotating.
D. the sun is revolving.

Answer 1

A. Think about this. If the earth was spinning around the sun (which it is), and you look in the sky, you'll see the same stars all the time. It wouldn't matter when you looked up at the sky: it would always be the same stars. keep in mind that the earth's axis is slightly slanted. When the earth rotates, you'll see constellations that the other side of the planet can see, and vice versa. Therefore, the rotation of the earth is responsible for this.

If you want further proof of this, try this little experiment:
Take a flashlight in one hand and turn it on. Aim it at the ceiling. The flashlight will represent the earth, the ceiling will represent the stars you see in the sky, and the ray of light will be the area that you can see. "revolve" your flashlight, keeping it pointed in the same direction. What do you notice? That the light is facing ABOUT the same position all the time. Now revolve your flashlight. What happens now? Your light is pointing at the floor, on the walls, on the ceiling... all over the place. this is why you see different stars when the earth rotates. Hope that helped! :)

Now, there's one other thing I want to point out to you. This question is somewhat faulty. Why? Becuase the revolution of the earth CAN change the position of the stars in the sky. However, the position does not change much. Rotation changes it a lot, so this is your answer. Think back to the flashlight. When you revolved it, the light was in a different position on the ceiling, but still in relatively the same place. When you rotated it, the light was in a completely different place. Again, hope I helped. :)

ONE MORE THING TOO! If you're on any of earth's poles (north or south), you will not see the stars change like you would if you were on the equator. when the earth spins, you don't change your position. The people on the equator (or, basically anywhere else on the earth) would.

Answer 2

Not A. The rotation of Earth would only make an impact on the position of constellations during a single day, not "throughout the year". Thus, we must assume you are not referring to the constellations' progress through the sky on a single night.

Not C. The rotation of the sun has no bearing on the apparent position of the constellations as viewed from Earth.

Not D. The revolution of the sun about the galactic core does affect constellation position, but over a very long time. It's impact over a single year is insignificant.

So your answer is B.

To be more accurate, though, it is due to Earth's axial tilt, not just its revolution about the sun. If Earth had zero axial tilt along the ecliptic, then the positions of the constellations would remain relatively fixed throughout a single year. (This is also the reason the sun's position changes, appearing closer to the horizon during the winter months, and thus the cause of seasonal weather patterns.)

Answer 3

A and B actually. Mostly B. If the earth were to rotate in a fixed position AND the stars or celestial bodies that made up the constellations were also in a fixed astronomical position, then the constellations would appear in the same spot at a given time every night. Because the earth is in orbit around the sun...the Constellations appear at a more westerly position Each progressing night. Another factor is our Tilt...but the most dramatic difference is the combination of Orbit and Rotation. Another way to think about this is that night is when your position on earth is facing AWAY from the sun. In the summer facing a way from the Sun is a completely differnent set of stars and constelattions than winter. Well not completely...

Answer 4

A. The reason is because a day not exactly 24 hours but 4 minutes short. Every 15 days the constellations rise an hour earlier.

Answer 5

A. Earth is rotating.

Answer 6

B.

Though, it really has as much to do with the earth's axial tilt in relation to the orbital plane...

Answer 7

um.......... "B" and to a much lesser noticeable degree the position of the earths "AXIS" (tilt orient to stellar horizon)
seeya!!

Answer 8

A or B, probably A.