A leap year consists of 366 days, which is one day more than a standard year that has 365 days. The extra day is added to the month of February, making it 29 days long instead of the usual 28.
The concept of a leap year was introduced to help synchronize the calendar year with the solar year, as the Earth takes approximately 365.2422 days to orbit the Sun. To account for this discrepancy, an extra day is added every four years, hence the name “leap year.” However, there are exceptions to this rule: a year will not be a leap year if it is divisible by 100, unless it is also divisible by 400. For example:
- The year 2000 was a leap year because it is divisible by 400.
- The year 1900 was not a leap year because it is divisible by 100 but not by 400.
Leap years ensure that our calendars stay aligned with the Earth’s position in relation to the Sun, helping us maintain a consistent schedule for seasons and activities throughout the years.