Book 5, Question 127 · Video
Sun Up, Sun Down! Why Do We Have Days and Nights?
Earth spins like a top, and one full spin takes about 24 hours. When your part of Earth faces the Sun, it is day. When it turns away, it is night.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do we have days and nights?
The Big Idea
Here's a surprise! The Sun doesn't go to bed. Earth spins around like a slow, giant top. The side facing the Sun has day, and the side turned away has night.
Step 1
Step 1: Earth faces the Sun. Sunlight shines on just one half of Earth at a time, like a flashlight on a ball. On the lit half, it's day. Time for play!
Step 2
Step 2: Earth keeps spinning. Earth turns all the way around about once every 24 hours. You're standing on a moving planet right now!
Step 3
Step 3: that side turns away, and night arrives. As your spot spins out of the sunlight, the sky gets dark. The Sun didn't go anywhere. We just turned away from it!
A Closer Look
Let's look at Earth and the Sun. The Sun is on the right. The side facing the Sun is the day side. The side turned away is the night side. And the green arrow shows Earth's spin.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! One spin takes about 24 hours. That's what we call a day. Earth spins toward the east, so the Sun seems to rise in the east. Bedtime follows your local night, not a broken Sun. Earth spins about 1,600 kilometers an hour near the equator!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Ask: if Earth stopped spinning, what would a day mean? And ask: why is night not the Sun turning off? Try it at home: use a lamp and a ball, in a dark room. Slowly spin the ball, and watch the light move across it.
Outro
Every day and every night comes from Earth's gentle spin! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!