IGCSE 0625 / Section 6.1.1 / Core

Spin and tilt.

Two motions shape our calendar. The Earth spins like a top, swinging us in and out of sunlight to make day and night, and it circles the Sun once a year, leaning over as it goes to give us the seasons.

The key idea

The Earth rotates on its tilted axis once every 24 hours, giving day and night, and orbits the Sun once a year. The tilt of the axis causes the seasons, as each hemisphere leans toward or away from the Sun.

Definition · learn the exact words

The Earth rotates on its axis once a day, giving day and night, and orbits the Sun once a year. The Earth’s axis is tilted, which gives the seasons.

one rotation ≈ 24 hours · one orbit ≈ 365 days

Day and night come from rotation; the seasons come from the tilt of the axis, not from changing distance to the Sun.

Section 01

Turn the Earth.

Spin the Earth and orbit it round the Sun, and watch day, night and the seasons appear.

Stage 1 · Learn

Check earth rotation

Four quick checks. Each correct answer earns XP and lights this skill on your star map.

Quick check+10 XP

Day and night are caused by the Earth...

Quick check+10 XP

The Earth takes about how long to rotate once on its axis?

Quick check+10 XP

The Earth orbits the Sun once every...

Quick check+10 XP

The seasons are caused by...

Section 02

Three effects, two motions.

Rotation gives day and night, the orbit gives the year, and the tilt gives the seasons.

Examiner trap

The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, not by the Earth being nearer to or further from the Sun. Day and night come from the Earth’s rotation, not from its orbit.

Stage 2 · Exam

Exam-style questions

Unlocks once the four checks above are done. Worth more XP, written in the style of Paper 2.

Finish the four checks above to unlock the exam questions
Exam style+20 XP

It is daytime on the half of the Earth that is...

Exam style+20 XP

Which statement about the seasons is correct?

Exam style+20 XP

One complete orbit of the Earth around the Sun takes about...

Skill unlocked

Earth rotation, mastered.

The spinning, tilted Earth is mapped. Keep the chain going.

-Rank -Level -Score -Topics
Go deeper · practice
Six original Cambridge-style questions
Rotation giving day and night, the yearly orbit, and the axial tilt causing the seasons. Attempt each, then reveal the worked solution.
Stage 3 · master the unit
Space physics challenge
Mixed questions across the whole unit, each one worth XP. Start this only when you feel confident across every topic in the unit, not just earth rotation.
Start the unit challenge →