If both the direction of Earth's rotation about its axis and the direction of its revolution around the Sun were reversed, the length of a 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

Reversing both the direction of Earth's rotation about its axis and its revolution around the Sun would not change the relative motion between Earth and the stars or the Sun. Therefore, the length of a sidereal day, which is determined by Earth's rotation relative to distant stars, would remain 4 minutes shorter than a solar day, as it is now. This is because a solar day accounts for both Earth's rotation and its movement around the Sun, which adds approximately 4 minutes to the length of a day as observed from the Sun.

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