Many people are aware that Earth rotates around the Sun every 24 hours. However, not everyone knows that the speed at which the Earth rotates varies slightly. A day can sometimes seem longer or shorter than you expect. The nuclear clocks, that maintain the standard time, have to be adjusted periodically by subtracting or adding one second. This change is known 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 typical rotating event. It is the cyclical wobble on the Earth’s axis, similar in nature to the toy top spinning slightly off-center. This shift in axial position relative to fixed stars (inertial spaces) has a period of 25,771.5. This is also the reason for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include free nutation and the Chandler wobble and polar motion.
In addition to these recurring events, the speed of a rotator can also be affected by weather conditions and other factors such as earthquakes. For example, if the core of the Earth rotates faster than the outer layer, the day will appear shorter. This change is due to the tidal force that is acting on the Earth’s surface as well as the gravity pulls of other massive objects in the Solar System such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is why it’s important to take into account the Earth’s rotational velocity when creating fun park rides such as Ferris wheels and Carousels.