Our planet, Earth, both rotates around the Sun and moves in a larger orbit around it. These two motions are distinct but interconnected.
Rotation: Earth rotates on its axis, an imaginary line passing through its poles. This rotational motion causes day and night as different parts of the planet are alternately exposed to sunlight. Earth completes one full rotation on its axis in approximately 24 hours, creating the cycle of day and night.
Orbit: Earth also orbits, or revolves, around the Sun. This motion occurs in a nearly circular path called an orbit. It takes Earth approximately 365.25 days (one year) to complete one orbit around the Sun. The orbital path is elliptical, meaning it is not a perfect circle but rather slightly elongated.
The combination of Earth's rotation and its orbital motion around the Sun gives rise to the cycle of seasons. As Earth orbits the Sun, its axis remains tilted at an angle relative to its orbital plane. This tilt, along with the elliptical shape of the orbit, results in variations in the amount of sunlight received by different parts of the planet during different times of the year, causing the changing seasons.
So, to summarize, Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night, while simultaneously revolving around the Sun in an orbit, which takes approximately one year to complete.