Which of the following statements about the motions of the Earth is not true?

Introduction / Context:
This general knowledge question tests basic facts about the motions of the Earth, which are fundamental ideas in world geography and astronomy. The Earth both rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun, and standard approximate values for these motions are used in many other topics, such as time zones, seasons, and day length. The task here is to identify which one of the four given statements is not true, based on well known standard values.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The duration of one revolution of the Earth around the Sun is given as 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds.
• One statement claims that the Earth takes 48 hours to complete one rotation on its axis.
• Another statement gives the speed of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun as about 66,000 miles per hour.
• Another statement gives the rotational speed of the Earth at the equator as more than 1,000 miles per hour.
• Standard textbook values in geography and physics are considered accurate enough for this question.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this, we compare each statement with the accepted standard facts. The sidereal period of the Earth around the Sun is close to 365 days and about 6 hours, which matches the given value reasonably well. The Earth completes one rotation on its axis in about 24 hours, not 48 hours, so that is suspicious. The average orbital speed of the Earth is about 30 kilometres per second, which is around 108,000 kilometres per hour or roughly 67,000 miles per hour, close to the stated 66,000 miles per hour. The rotational speed at the equator is about 1,670 kilometres per hour, which is a bit more than 1,000 miles per hour, so that statement is also reasonable.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that one year is the time the Earth takes to complete one revolution around the Sun. This is approximately 365 days and just under 6 hours, which matches the idea of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds. So statement A is essentially correct. Step 2: Recall that one day is the time the Earth takes to complete one rotation on its axis, which is about 24 hours. Therefore, the claim that the Earth needs 48 hours for one rotation is clearly wrong. Step 3: Convert the known orbital speed. The Earth moves at about 30 kilometres per second in its orbit. When converted to miles per hour, this is close to 66,000 to 67,000 miles per hour, so statement C is a reasonable approximation. Step 4: The Earth’s equatorial rotational speed is about 1,670 kilometres per hour, which is more than 1,000 miles per hour. So statement D is also roughly correct. Step 5: Since only statement B clearly contradicts standard values, it is the statement that is not true.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify is to remember simple benchmark numbers. One rotation equals one day, which we all experience as about 24 hours. Any claim that one rotation takes 48 hours would mean a day lasts two of our current days, which obviously is not the case. Similarly, we know that a year is about 365 days, and that the Earth moves very fast in its orbit and spins rapidly on its axis. Checking B against these simple facts is enough to identify the incorrect statement without detailed calculations.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is considered correct because the length of a solar year is about 365 days and nearly 6 hours, which matches the given value closely. Option C is correct because the average orbital speed of the Earth is indeed around 66,000 miles per hour. Option D is correct in the sense that the rotational speed at the equator is indeed greater than 1,000 miles per hour. Only option B contradicts the well known fact that one rotation of the Earth takes roughly 24 hours, not 48 hours.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus on small differences in the numbers and assume that small variations make a statement false. Competitive exams usually allow for approximate values for speeds and times, and the key idea is to see whether the statement broadly matches accepted facts. Another pitfall is confusing hours in a day with hours in two days or mixing up rotation and revolution. Remember that rotation refers to spinning on the axis and revolution refers to moving around the Sun.

Final Answer:
The statement that is not true is the one claiming that the Earth takes 48 hours to complete one rotation on its axis, so the correct answer is The Earth makes one complete rotation on its axis in 48 hours.