If the direction of Earth's rotation about its axis were reversed but the direction of its revolution around the Sun remained the same, the sidereal day would be
A) 4 minutes shorter than a solar day, as it is now.
B) 4 minutes longer than a solar day.
C) the same length as a solar day.
D) 8 minutes shorter than a solar day.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Currently, the sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than the solar day because Earth's rotation direction and revolution direction around the Sun both contribute to the length of the solar day. If Earth's rotation direction were reversed, the sidereal day would become 4 minutes longer than the solar day, as the rotation and revolution would counteract each other more significantly.

If the Direction of Earth's Rotation About Its Axis Were