NextPrevious

Defining the World

The Earth

How fast does the Earth spin

It depends on where you are on the planet. If you were standing on the north pole or close to it, you would be moving at a very slow rate of speed—nearly zero miles per hour. On the other hand, those who live at the equator (and therefore have to move about 24,900 miles [40,000 kilometers] in a 24-hour period) zoom at about 1,038 miles (1,670 kilometers) per hour. Those in the mid-latitudes, as in the United States, breeze along from about 700 to 900 miles (1,126 to 1,448 kilometers) per hour.