2006-11-04 07:29:01 · 5 answers · asked by WolfGangWeulf 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Apparent solar days have an average length of 24 hours. However, an individual apparent solar day may actually be almost 20 seconds longer or shorter.
In addition, note that the apparent solar day is different from the amount of time it takes the Earth to rotate once around its axis, which is called a sidereal day. That only takes 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. The additional rotation in the solar day is because the Earth moves around the sun while moving on its axis, and the Earth needs to rotate further to have the Sun in the same position as the day before.
2006-11-04 07:33:11 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll go along with the other answers so far and add that the earths spin, it's sidereal day, is changing. Slowly. Very, very slowly. The spin is slowing and thus lengthening the day. Don't worry though, it'll be a few million or more years before anyone will notice. And besides this slowing has been going on since the planet formed. The effect can be seen by comparing the growth bands of certain fossil corrals over several ages. (some corrals have daily growth bands)
2006-11-05 02:51:03 · answer #2 · answered by Sulkahlee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds in one day.
2006-11-04 22:24:30 · answer #3 · answered by bldudas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth is spinning at aproximately 1000mph
it is 24,901 mi around the equater and it takes 23.56 hr for the earth to make a rotation
2006-11-05 09:22:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you really want to be specific, the earth spins once on its axes every 23:56:04 (hh:mm:ss)
2006-11-04 17:53:37 · answer #5 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋