Many people are aware that Earth rotates around the Sun every 24 hours. However it is not widely known that the speed of rotation can vary. This means that a given day may sometimes feel longer or shorter than anticipated. This is the reason why Atomic clocks that regulate standard time https://northcentralrotary.org/2021/07/08/generated-post/ have to be periodically adjusted by adding or subtracting a second. This is referred to as a leap second. This article will discuss how this change takes place, and how it’s important to our daily routines.
Precession is a standard rotating event. It is the cyclical wobble on the Earth’s axis, similar in nature to a toy top that spins slightly off-center. This change in axial direction relative to fixed stars (inertial space) has a time lapse of 25,771.5 years. This is also responsible for the direction of cyclones both in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include the Chandler wobble free nutation, the polar motion.
In addition to these recurring occasions, the rotator’s speed can also be affected by weather conditions and other elements, including earthquakes. For example, if the core of the Earth is rotating faster than its outer layer, days will seem shorter. This is due to tidal forces that is acting on the Earth’s surface as well as the gravitational pulls from other large objects within the Solar System such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is the reason it’s crucial to take into account the Earth’s speed of rotation when designing fun park rides like Ferris wheels and Carousels.