Precession is the
A) slow coning motion of the spin axis of Earth, similar to that of a spinning top.
B) gradual reversal of Earth's magnetic field.
C) motion of Earth along its orbital path during a year.
D) daily spinning motion of Earth, producing the apparent motion of the Sun and the stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Precession refers to the slow, coning motion of Earth's spin axis, similar to the wobble of a spinning top. This phenomenon is caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge, leading to a gradual shift in the orientation of Earth's axis over a period of approximately 26,000 years.

Precession Is the