Rotating Events in Our Time

Most people are aware that the Earth rotates around the Sun each 24 hours. However it is not widely known that the speed of rotation varies slightly. A day may appear longer or shorter than you think. The Atomic clocks, which keep the standard time, have to be adjusted on a regular basis by adding or subtracting one second. This change is known as a leap second. This article will clarify what is a leap second and the importance it has to our daily schedules.

One typical rotating event is precession, a periodic wobble of Earth’s central axis of motion, similar to like a slightly off-center rotating toy top. The axial direction change relative to fixed stars (inertial space) has a cycle of 25,771.5 years. This is also the reason for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include free nutation and the Chandler wobble, and polar movement.

The speed of the rotator is affected by other variables, including earthquakes, weather conditions, and other events that occur regularly. For instance, if core of the Earth is rotating faster than its outer layer, the day will feel shorter. This is due to the tidal force that is acting on the Earth’s surface, as well gravitational pulls on other major objects within the Solar System such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is why it’s important to consider the Earth’s rotational rate when creating fun park rides such as Ferris wheels and Carousels.

https://northcentralrotary.org/2021/07/08/generated-post/