If we knew that the Sun rose every morning in the east and set every evening in the west, approximately 12 hours later, but we had no other information, which of the following conclusions would be reasonable?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observation that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west approximately 12 hours later on a daily basis is consistent with the Earth rotating on its axis once every 24 hours, giving the appearance of the Sun moving across the sky. This is a misunderstanding in the explanation; the correct interpretation based on the given information should be that the Earth's rotation on its axis, which occurs once every 24 hours, is responsible for the daily cycle of sunrise and sunset. This rotation makes it seem as if the Sun orbits the Earth once every 24 hours, which is the premise of choice B, although it's a misconception of the actual dynamics. The accurate scientific explanation is Earth's rotation, not the Sun's orbit around Earth.

If We Knew That the Sun Rose Every Morning in the East