How many hours does it take the earth to spin on its axi?

Answer 1

It takes 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds, roughly. Yes, it seems impossible that the answer is not exactly 24 hours. There is a difference between sidereal and synodic periods of rotation. The time given is for one sidereal rotation, or an exact 360 degree rotation as it would be observed from the distant stars. The synodic rotation, a little more than 360 degrees, brings us back to the same point relative to the sun. This rotation averages out to 24 hours, over the course of a year. The reason for the difference is because the earth is not only spinning on its axis. It is also orbiting around the sun at the same time, and in the same direction (anticlockwise). So the earth has to spin a little extra to 'get the sun back where it belongs', so to speak.

Answer 2

The earth takes 24 hours, minus 3 minutes and 56 seconds, to turn once on its axis. This is a sidereal day, or a turn of exactly 360 degrees as seen from the distant stars. In 24 hours the earth completes one day of mean time, and this will not be a turn of 360 degrees. There is also a period of time called solar time which is different from the two above. This is a complicated and very interesting topic. The link below will be a good starting place.

Answer 3

It takes the Earth approximately 24 hours to complete one full rotation on its axis, resulting in a day-night cycle.

Answer 4

The solar Mercurian day is 176 Earth days, and is very complex compared to our solar day.

Answer 5

The hour was chosen to be 1/24th of earth's rotation. 24 was selected because it has many factors, allowing the day to be evenly divided into 2, 3, or 4 equal portions.

Answer 6

Twenty four hours, the length of one Earth Day.

Answer 7

24 hours to turn right round on its axis and a year (365 days) to complete its orbit around the sun.

Answer 8

The earth revolves on its axis once every 24 hours. Actually its about 4 minutes

less than 24 hours.

The earth rotates around the sun once a year.

Answer 9

An object would be useful to give an answer.

Answer 10

24 . Actually it takes about 4 minutes less than 24 hours.