The majority of people article source are aware that the Earth revolves around the Sun each 24 hours. However many people are unaware that the speed of rotation is not the same every day. It’s possible that a day could appear longer or shorter than you would expect. The clocks that are atomic, which maintain standard time, must be adjusted periodically by adding or subtracting one second. This change is known as leap seconds. This article will discuss how this change happens, and why it matters to our daily schedules.
One standard rotating event is precession, the cyclical wobble of Earth’s axis, much like a slightly off-center spinning toy top. The change in axial direction relative to fixed stars (inertial space) has a cycle of 25,771.5 years. It’s also responsible in changing the direction of cyclones within the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include free nutation, the Chandler wobble and polar motion.
In addition to these regular occasions, the rotator’s speed can also be affected by weather conditions and other factors, including earthquakes. If the core of the Earth rotates faster, a day feels shorter. This change is caused by tides acting on the surface of the Earth, as well as 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 rotational velocity when designing fun park rides like Ferris wheels and Carousels.