How does rotation difference from orbit?

Rotation refers to the spinning of an object around its own axis, while orbit refers to the movement of an object around another object in a fixed path or trajectory.

In other words, rotation is an internal movement of an object, while orbit is an external movement of an object around another object. Rotation is typically used to describe the movement of celestial bodies like planets and moons, while orbit is used to describe the movement of objects like satellites and spacecraft around larger celestial bodies.

Rotation

- A celestial body's spin around its own axis.
- Causes day and night cycles.

Orbit

- A celestial body's path around a larger celestial body (e.g., a planet around a star).
- Determines the body's period (time it takes to complete one orbit).

Key Differences

| Feature | Rotation | Orbit |
|---|---|---|
| Axis | Celestial body's own axis | Larger celestial body (e.g., star, planet) |
| Purpose | Day and night cycles | Gravity |
| Period | Time for one complete spin | Time for one complete path |
| Speed | Varies depending on celestial body | Typically proportional to distance from larger celestial body |
| Orientation | Can be tilted, causing seasonal variations | Typically occurs in a plane |
| Examples | Earth's rotation (24 hours) | Earth's orbit around the Sun (365.25 days) |