# How fast does the earth spin around its axis?

The question that really troubles me is how fast the Earth spins around its axis?
I was wondering that if the earth spins really fast then why are the days slow.

## Answers and Replies

It generally spins around 360 degrees per day ... not too fast, at least not compared to a spinning top.

so it spins around at a minmum speed?

um .... I'm not sure what you mean by "minimum". That's not the slowest angular speed possible (the Moon spins once per 28 days, approximately). If you just mean "slow speed", well, then I'd ask "slow compared to what?"

In any case, the Earth's rotational rate does vary slightly over time, but for most practical purposes, you can say that it spins once per day, i.e. 360 degrees in 24 hours, or 15 degrees per hour, or .25 degrees per minute.

The earth travels at abought 1000 miles per hour at the equator.

Dale
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2021 Award
It generally spins around 360 degrees per day
[nitpick]that is 360 degrees per sidereal day, not solar day[/nitpick]

[nitpick]that is 360 degrees per sidereal day, not solar day[/nitpick]
ha ha ... yes, indeed, and I love the [nitpick] tags! ;-)

Of course, I could claim that that's what I meant by "around 360 degrees" ... but I won't.

Dale
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2021 Award
Whew, glad you didn't take offense . I know nitpicking can be obnoxious.

Whew, glad you didn't take offense . I know nitpicking can be obnoxious.
Only when people forget the [nitpick] tags!!

Redbelly98
Staff Emeritus
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Whew, glad you didn't take offense . I know nitpicking can be obnoxious.

Well, you did use [nitpick] tags, so you're in the clear!

I think, for the purposes of this thread, saying that the Earth spins roughly 1 revolution per day is sufficient