does the sun revolve?
or does the sun rotate on its axis?
because my class says no and I say yes.
Asker: Alan, 11 years old
Answer
Alany,
you are absolutely right and your classmates know nothing about it:
The sun rotates on its own axis in about a month.
At the height of the equator the sun rotates a little faster (about 27 days) and a little slower at the height of the solar poles (> 30 days). Because of this difference in rotational speed, the sun is actually constantly being stirred.
Answered by
Dr. David Bergmans
solar physics, astrophysics
Royal Observatory of Belgium
Boulevard Boechout 10 1020 Brussels
http://www.astro.oma.be/
Boulevard Boechout 10 1020 Brussels
http://www.astro.oma.be/
.