The Earth
6.1.1What the syllabus asks of you
- Know that: (a) the Earth is a planet that orbits the Sun once in approximately 365 days (b) the orbit of the Earth around the Sun is an ellipse which is approximately circular (c) the Earth rotates on its axis, which is tilted, once in approximately 24 hours (d) it takes approximately one month for the Moon to orbit the Earth (e) it takes approximately 500 s for light from the Sun to reach the Earth
- Define average orbital speed from the equation v = 2π r / T where r is the average radius of the orbit and T is the orbital period; recall and use this equation
Read the notes first
Chapter 6: The Earth
Drill this topic
Every question on The Earth, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
6 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q38Show mark scheme →
AThe Earth orbits the Moon once every 24 hours.
BThe Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days.
CThe Moon orbits the Sun once every month.
DThe Moon orbits the Earth once every 24 hours.
Mark scheme
2Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q39Show mark scheme →
AIt has an elliptical orbit around the Sun.
BIt is a star that takes approximately 365 days to orbit the Sun.
CIt rotates on its axis once every 28 hours.
DIt orbits the Moon exactly once a year.
Mark scheme
3May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q39Show mark scheme →
A0.50 s
B5.0 s
C50 s
D500 s
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q39Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B2, 3 and 4
C2 and 3 only
D3 and 4 only
Mark scheme
5May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q40Show mark scheme →
AThe orbital speed of the Earth around the Sun is: $\dfrac{2\pi \times \text{average diameter of the orbit}}{\text{orbital period}}$.
BThe orbit of the Earth around the Sun is an ellipse.
CThe Moon takes approximately one month to orbit the Sun.
DLight from the Sun takes 5.0 minutes to reach the Earth.
Mark scheme
6May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q39Show mark scheme →
A160 m / s
B1000 m / s
C1.4 × 10⁸ m / s
D8.8 × 10⁸ m / s
Mark scheme