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Mean solar day is the time interval between two successive noon when the sun passes through zenith point. The sidereal day is the time interval between two successive transits of a distant star through the zenith point. By drawing the appropriate diagram showing earth’s spin and orbital motion, show that mean solar day is four minutes longer than the sidereal day. In other words, distant stars would rise 4 minutes early every successive day.

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When the earth revolves at its own axis by 360^{o} it changes its angle

PSQ=0^{o}

So, 361^{o} rotation by the earth is one solar day or 24 hrs

1=24*\frac{3600}{361}sec=3\; min\; 59\; sec\cong 4\; min

Thus, the distant start rises 4 min. early every day

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