Final answer:
The Earth rotates on its axis in an easterly direction, viewed counterclockwise from above the North Pole, causing locations on Earth's surface to move east. This rotation leads to day and night and also affects weather systems through the Coriolis force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rotation of Earth on its axis causes every location on the surface of the Earth to move in an easterly direction. This rotation occurs once every 24 hours, leading to day and night as different parts of the Earth are exposed to the Sun. Viewing the Earth from above the North Pole illustrates that the rotation is counterclockwise.
The consequences of Earth's rotation are not limited to the alternation of daylight and darkness; they also include effects on weather systems and cause phenomena such as the Coriolis force, which affects wind patterns by deflecting to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.