It took man many millennia to understand that the Earth is not the center of the Universe and is in constant motion.
Galileo Galilei's phrase “And yet it turns!” went down in history forever and became a kind of symbol of that era when scientists from different countries tried to refute the theory of the geocentric system of the world.
Although the rotation of the Earth was proven about five centuries ago, the exact reasons that motivate it to move are still unknown.
Why does the Earth spin around its axis?
In the Middle Ages, people believed that the Earth was motionless, and the Sun and other planets revolved around it. Only in the 16th century did astronomers manage to prove the opposite. Despite the fact that many associate this discovery with Galileo, in fact it belongs to another scientist - Nicolaus Copernicus.
It was he who wrote the treatise “On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres” in 1543, where he put forward a theory about the movement of the Earth. For a long time, this idea did not receive support from either his colleagues or the church, but in the end it had a huge impact on the scientific revolution in Europe and became fundamental in the further development of astronomy. 
After the theory about the rotation of the Earth was proven, scientists began to look for the causes of this phenomenon. Over the past centuries, many hypotheses have been put forward, but even today not a single astronomer can accurately answer this question.
Currently, there are three main versions that have the right to life - theories about inertial rotation, magnetic fields and the impact of solar radiation on the planet.
The theory of inertial rotation
Some scientists are inclined to believe that once upon a time (back at the time of its appearance and formation) the Earth spun up, and now rotates by inertia. Formed from cosmic dust, it began to attract other bodies, which gave it additional impulse. This assumption also applies to other planets of the solar system.
The theory has many opponents, since it cannot explain why at different times the speed of the Earth either increases or decreases. It is also unclear why some planets in the solar system rotate in the opposite direction, such as Venus.
Theory about magnetic fields
If you try to connect two magnets with an equally charged pole, they will begin to repel each other. The theory of magnetic fields suggests that the Earth's poles are also equally charged and seem to repel each other, which causes the planet to rotate. 
Interestingly, scientists recently made a discovery that the Earth's magnetic field pushes its internal core from west to east and causes it to rotate faster than the rest of the planet.
Sun Exposure Hypothesis
The theory of solar radiation is considered to be the most probable. It is well known that it warms the surface shells of the Earth (air, seas, oceans), but the heating occurs unevenly, resulting in the formation of sea and air currents.
It is they who, when interacting with the solid shell of the planet, make it rotate. Continents act as a kind of turbines that determine the speed and direction of movement. If they are not monolithic enough, they begin to drift, which affects the increase or decrease in speed.
Why does the Earth move around the Sun?
The reason for the Earth's revolution around the Sun is called inertia. According to the theory about the formation of our star, about 4.57 billion years ago, a huge amount of dust appeared in space, which gradually turned into a disk, and then into the Sun.
The outer particles of this dust began to connect with each other, forming planets. Even then, by inertia, they began to rotate around the star and continue to move along the same trajectory today. 
According to Newton's law, all cosmic bodies move in a straight line, that is, in fact, the planets of the solar system, including the Earth, should have long ago flown into outer space. But this doesn't happen.
The reason is that the Sun has a large mass and, accordingly, a huge gravitational force. The Earth, while moving, constantly tries to rush away from it in a straight line, but gravitational forces attract it back, so the planet is kept in orbit and revolves around the Sun.
Since ancient times, people have been interested in why night gives way to day, winter in spring, and summer in autumn. Later, when answers to the first questions were found, scientists began to take a closer look at the Earth as an object, trying to find out at what speed the Earth rotates around the Sun and around its axis.
In contact with
Earth movement
All celestial bodies are in motion, the Earth is no exception. Moreover, it simultaneously undergoes axial movement and movement around the Sun.
To visualize the movement of the Earth, just look at the top, which simultaneously rotates around an axis and quickly moves along the floor. If this movement did not exist, the Earth would not be suitable for life. Thus, our planet, without rotation around its axis, would be constantly turned to the Sun with one side, on which the air temperature would reach +100 degrees, and all the water available in this area would turn into steam. On the other side, the temperature would be constantly below zero and the entire surface of this part would be covered with ice.
Rotation orbit
Rotation around the Sun follows a certain trajectory - an orbit that is established due to the attraction of the Sun and the speed of movement of our planet. If the gravity were several times stronger or the speed was much lower, then the Earth would fall into the Sun. What if the attraction disappeared or greatly decreased, then the planet, driven by its centrifugal force, flew tangentially into space. This would be similar to spinning an object tied to a rope above your head and then suddenly releasing it.
The Earth's trajectory is shaped like an ellipse rather than a perfect circle, and the distance to the star varies throughout the year. In January, the planet approaches the point closest to the star - it is called perihelion - and is 147 million km away from the star. And in July, the Earth moves 152 million km away from the sun, approaching a point called aphelion. The average distance is taken to be 150 million km.
The Earth moves in its orbit from west to east, which corresponds to the “counterclockwise” direction.
It takes the Earth 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds (1 astronomical year) to complete one revolution around the center of the Solar System. But for convenience, a calendar year is usually counted as 365 days, and the remaining time is “accumulated” and adds one day to each leap year.
The orbital distance is 942 million km. Based on calculations, the speed of the Earth is 30 km per second or 107,000 km/h. For people it remains invisible, since all people and objects move the same way in the coordinate system. And yet it is very big. For example, the highest speed of a racing car is 300 km/h, which is 365 times slower than the speed of the Earth rushing along its orbit.
However, the value of 30 km/s is not constant due to the fact that the orbit is an ellipse. The speed of our planet fluctuates somewhat throughout the journey. The greatest difference is achieved when passing the perihelion and aphelion points and is 1 km/s. That is, the accepted speed of 30 km/s is average.
Axial rotation
The earth's axis is a conventional line that can be drawn from the north to the south pole. It passes at an angle of 66°33 relative to the plane of our planet. One revolution occurs in 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds, this time is designated by the sidereal day.
The main result of axial rotation is the change of day and night on the planet. In addition, due to this movement:
- The earth has a shape with oblate poles;
- bodies (river flows, wind) moving in a horizontal plane shift slightly (in the Southern Hemisphere - to the left, in the Northern Hemisphere - to the right).
The speed of axial movement in different areas differs significantly. The highest at the equator is 465 m/s or 1674 km/h, it is called linear. This is the speed, for example, in the capital of Ecuador. In areas north or south of the equator, the rotation speed decreases. For example, in Moscow it is almost 2 times lower. These speeds are called angular, their indicator becomes smaller as they approach the poles. At the poles themselves, the speed is zero, that is, the poles are the only parts of the planet that are without movement relative to the axis.
It is the location of the axis at a certain angle that determines the change of seasons. Being in this position, different areas of the planet receive unequal amounts of heat at different times. If our planet was located strictly vertically relative to the Sun, then there would be no seasons at all, since the northern latitudes illuminated by the luminary during the daytime received the same amount of heat and light as the southern latitudes.
The following factors influence axial rotation:
- seasonal changes (precipitation, atmospheric movement);
- tidal waves against the direction of axial movement.
These factors slow down the planet, as a result of which its speed decreases. The rate of this decrease is very small, only 1 second in 40,000 years; however, over 1 billion years, the day has lengthened from 17 to 24 hours.
The movement of the Earth continues to be studied to this day.. This data helps to compile more accurate star maps, as well as determine the connection of this movement with natural processes on our planet.
For a very long time, people thought that our planet was flattened and rested on 3 pillars. A person is unable to notice its rotation while standing on it. The reason for this is the size. They make a huge difference! The size of a person is too insignificant in relation to the size of the globe. Time moved forward, science progressed, and with it people’s ideas about their own planet.
What have we come to today? Is it true that and not the other way around? What other astronomical knowledge is valid in this area? First things first.
Along its axis
Today we know that it simultaneously takes part in two types of motion: the Earth rotates around the Sun and along its own imaginary axis. Yes, exactly the axles! Our planet has an imaginary line that “pierces” the surface of the earth at its two poles. Draw your axis mentally into the sky, and it will pass next to the North Star. That is why this point always seems motionless to us, and the sky seems to be rotating. We think that they are moving from east to west, but we note that it only seems to us! Such movement is visible, since it is a reflection of the planet’s real rotation - along the axis.
The daily rotation lasts exactly 24 hours. In other words, in one day the globe makes one full circle along its own axis. Each of the earth's points first passes through the illuminated side, then through the dark side. And a day later everything repeats again.
For us, it looks like a constant change of days and nights: morning - day - evening - morning... If the planet did not rotate in this way, then on the side facing the light there would be eternal day, and on the opposite side there would be eternal night. Horrible! It's good that this is not so! In general, we figured out the daily rotation. Now let's find out how many times the Earth rotates around the Sun.
Sunny round dance
We also won’t notice this with the naked eye. However, this phenomenon can be felt. We all know very well the warm and cold seasons of the year. But what do they have in common with the movements of the planet? Yes, they have everything in common! The Earth revolves around the Sun in three hundred and sixty-five days, or one year. In addition, our globe is a participant in other movements. For example, together with the Sun and its “colleagues” the planets, the Earth moves relative to its own galaxy - the Milky Way, in turn, moving relative to its “colleagues” - other galaxies.
It is important to know that in the entire Universe nothing is stationary, everything flows and changes! Let us note that the movement of the celestial body we see is just a reflection of a rotating planet.
Is the theory correct?
Today, many people are trying to prove the opposite: they believe that the Earth does not revolve around the Sun, but, on the contrary, the heavenly body revolves around the globe. Some scientists talk about the joint movement of the Earth and the Sun, which occurs relative to each other. Perhaps one day the world's scientific minds will turn all the scientific ideas known today about space upside down! So, all the “i”s are dotted, and you and I learned that around the Sun (at a speed, by the way, about 30 kilometers per second), and it makes a full revolution in 365 days (or 1 year), at the same time Our planet rotates on its axis every day (24 hours).
Our planet is always on the move. The Earth rotates simultaneously around the central point of the solar system and around its own axis.
Earth's axis and its tilt
The earth's axis is understood as a conventional straight line passing through the center and both geographic poles of the planet.
It is not vertical - it is inclined at an angle of 66°33´, and this explains the change of seasons:
- with the Sun position at 23°27´ N. w. (above the Northern Tropic) the northern hemisphere receives maximum heat and light, during this period summer begins here;
- six months later, the Sun rises above another tropic - the South, located at 23°27´ S. sh., now the southern hemisphere receives more light and heat, and winter begins in the northern.
If the earth's axis were always vertical, the planet would not know the phenomenon of seasonality: on the half illuminated by the Sun, all points would receive the same amount of heat and light.
To the angle of inclination of the axis not affected by any external or internal factor, including the attraction of the Sun, moon or other planets, but the axis itself undergoes precession - moving along a circular conical trajectory.
Today, the geographic North Pole of the Earth faces the North Star, but in 12 thousand years the axis will turn in the opposite direction.
The pole will be directed towards the star Vega in the constellation Lyra. After 25.8 thousand years, he will return to the North Star again.
In addition, the earth's axis drifts slightly in the region of the poles due to the fact that the Earth rotates, oscillates slightly, moving east or west at a speed of up to 10-15 cm/year, this is explained by climate changes occurring up to 45° N. w. and S: melting ice in Antarctica and Greenland, loss of water in Eurasia, excessively dry or wet years in Australia.
Rotation of the Earth around its axis
One such revolution of the Earth is called a day and lasts 24 hours, more precisely - 23 hours 56 minutes and several seconds. The planet moves from west to east. This phenomenon explains the change of day and night: day is observed on that half of the globe that is illuminated by the Sun, and night is observed on the shadow side.
Due to this rotation, there is a deviation of any moving flows of matter (water in rivers, air in winds) from lines parallel to the equator: in the south to the left, and in the north - in the opposite direction. Whirlpools also move in different ways - from natural circular waterfalls to water in the drain of a home washbasin. In the northern part of the planet, the water in the funnels rotates clockwise, in the southern hemisphere - in the opposite direction.
The linear speed of such movement of the planet at the equator is 465 m/s (1674 km/h).
With increasing latitude to the north and south, the speed indicators gradually become lower, for example at 55° N. (latitude of Moscow) they are already almost 2 times smaller and equal to 260 m/s.
At the South and North Poles, the linear speed reaches 0 m/s. The angular speed of rotation of the planet at any point is the same - 15° per hour.
Scientists have discovered five-year cycles of acceleration and deceleration in the Earth's rotation around its axis, and each recent "slow" year is most often accompanied by a surge in the number of earthquakes around the world. A direct cause-and-effect relationship has not yet been identified, but such cycles can become a tool for predicting the growth of seismic activity.
Rotation of the Earth around the Sun
The planet's orbit with respect to the central point of our system occurs in an elliptical orbit at an average distance from the center of the system of almost 149.6 million km with an average orbital speed of approximately 29.8 km/s.
The speed value changes depending on the location of our planet in outer space: being at the point closest to the Sun (it is called perihelion), this celestial body moves faster - more than 30 km/s, at aphelion (the position furthest from the luminary) - slower, about 29.3 km/s.
While the Earth makes a full revolution around the Sun, it manages to make approximately 365.25 of its own revolutions. This is how many days are included in 1 astronomical year.
It differs from the calendar calendar, in which a day is defined as a period of exactly 24 hours and lasts 365 days. Every fourth year, an additional 366 day is added to the calendar.
Which direction does the Earth rotate?
If you look at the Solar System “from above,” that is, so that the land areas located near the North Pole are exactly opposite our view, then the rotation will take place counterclockwise
Why don't we feel her movement?
A person cannot feel the rotation of the planet, because along with him all the objects on its surface move in parallel, in the same direction and at the same speed. As an example, we can cite sailing on a ship. While on its deck, we do not notice that the surrounding objects are floating along the pond with us. In relation to ourselves, they remain motionless.
What if she stops
If the Earth stops rotating around its axis, then:
- one side of it will be constantly turned towards the center of the solar system, the star will heat the soil to the highest temperatures, and all moisture from the surface will evaporate;
- the second side of the planet will plunge into eternal night, frost will constantly rage here, the water will turn into a thick layer of ice, and its thickness will reach kilometers;
- conditions will become extremely difficult for the emergence and development of any forms of life, incl. for the continued existence of humanity.
The Earth's day will last a whole year, the length of the day will be 6 months, and after a short period of twilight, the planet will experience a six-month night. Sunset and sunrise will be determined solely by the rotation of the planet around the star - it will rise in the west and set in the east.
Since the linear rotational speed reaches significant values, if the planet suddenly stops, all buildings, plants, animals and people will be swept away from the surface by inertial forces.
The only exceptions would be structures embedded in the earth's surface or rocks. The oceans will continue to rotate due to inertia, causing a giant tsunami.
Today, under the influence of centrifugal forces, the Earth is somewhat flattened at the poles and has a kind of “hump” at the equator. After stopping, it will disappear, all the water of the oceans will flow to the south and north, exposing the bottom in the equatorial region up to 30° N latitude. and S. Thus, one giant continent encircling it and two polar “water caps” are formed on the planet.
The Earth's magnetic field will also disappear, leaving us without protection from the solar and cosmic winds - charged particles dangerous to all living things that will fall on the planet. The loss of the magnetic field will lead to the disappearance of auroras.
All the consequences described are also true for the situation if the Earth’s movement around the Sun stops, only they will be even more catastrophic. There will be no more changes in the time of day, eternal night will be established on one half of the planet, and the same eternal day on the other.
The earth rotates around an inclined axis from west to east. Half of the globe is illuminated by the sun, it is day there at that time, the other half is in the shadow, there it is night. Due to the rotation of the Earth, the cycle of day and night occurs. The Earth makes one revolution around its axis in 24 hours - a day.
Due to rotation, moving currents (rivers, winds) are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere, and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
Rotation of the Earth around the Sun
The Earth rotates around the sun in a circular orbit, completing a full revolution in 1 year. The earth's axis is not vertical, it is inclined at an angle of 66.5° to the orbit, this angle remains constant during the entire rotation. The main consequence of this rotation is the change of seasons.
Consider the rotation of the Earth around the Sun.
- December 22- winter solstice. The southern tropic is closest to the sun (the sun is at its zenith) at this moment - therefore, it is summer in the southern hemisphere, and winter in the northern hemisphere. Nights in the southern hemisphere are short; on December 22, in the southern polar circle, the day lasts 24 hours, night does not come. In the northern hemisphere, everything is the other way around; in the Arctic Circle, the night lasts 24 hours.
- 22nd of June- day of the summer solstice. The northern tropic is closest to the sun; it is summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. In the southern polar circle, night lasts 24 hours, but in the northern circle there is no night at all.
- March 21, September 23- days of the spring and autumn equinoxes The equator is closest to the sun; day is equal to night in both hemispheres.
