Which of the following distinguishes rotation from revolution?

Answer Details

The correct distinction between rotation and revolution is that the Earth rotates on its axis while it revolves round the sun on an elliptical orbit.

Rotation is the spinning of the Earth on its own imaginary axis (an imaginary line running from the North Pole to the South Pole). One complete rotation takes approximately 24 hours and is responsible for the alternation of day and night.

Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun along an elliptical (slightly oval-shaped) path called an orbit. One complete revolution takes approximately 365.25 days (one year) and is responsible for the change of seasons, variation in the length of day and night throughout the year, and the apparent movement of the overhead sun between the tropics.

The other options contain factual errors:

• Revolution does not cause day and night; rotation does. And rotation does not cause seasons; revolution (combined with the tilt of the Earth's axis) does.
• Revolution does not take 24 hours; it takes approximately 365.25 days. Rotation does not mark a year; it marks a day.
• Rotation does not cause variation in the lengths of day and night; revolution and axial tilt do. Neither rotation nor revolution causes tides (tides are caused by gravitational pull of the moon and sun).