South of the equator, does the toilet bowl really flush the opposite way?

Answer 1

You are referring to something called the "Coriolis effect".
Although the Coriolis effect is indeed real, it is a very weak force in reality and does not practically influence the direction a liquid will drain in a toilet.
The water in the toilet will drain in the direction it is induced to, the Coriolis effect is totally negligible in this case since it is so weak when compared to the many other forces acting on the water.

Answer 2

In a way, yes. They both flush down the pan, but down is the opposite way, so to us topsiders I suppose those awkward Aussies and Kiwis flush up the pan.

If you're talking the "water goes down the plughole the other way" question, the answer is no. There have been numerous experiments done and it's just an urban myth. The actual direction it goes down is dependent upon minor spin put in the water when filling it and depends on the taps used and bowl shape, not the hemisphere. Even letting the water stop totally moving before removing the plug is no guarantee of direction, other fractal effects come in to play. In fact, you can change the direction of spin with your finger and cause it to spin either way.

In fact, drmanjo2010 quotes the Coriollis Effect (whuich actually isn't a real force) and give a reference to Wiki which he's obviously not read, because it specifically states that it is NOT responsible for this apparent effect. Maybe he can type but not read?

Answer 3

Yes, because of the Coriolis Effect. In reality it is a very small effect that only gives a slight increase in the likelihood of rotating the opposite direction, but it is a real effect all the same. If you have a perfect toilet and dead still water yes it will flow the direction that the Coriolis Effect more often than the direction against the Coriolis Effect, but most toilets are too distorted to allow water flow according to the Coriolis Effect.

Answer 4

No, it is an urban myth.

The twisting effect of the Coriolis force is real and does influence certain large things like the movement of air masses, but the effect is so small that it plays no role in determining the direction in which water rotates as it exits from a draining sink or toilet. The Coriolis effect produces a measurable effect over huge distances and long periods of time, neither of which applies to your bathroom. Toilets and sinks drain in the directions they do because of the way water is directed into them or pulled from them. If water enters in a swirling motion (as it does when a toilet is flushed, for example), the water will exit in that same swirling pattern; as well, most basins have irregular surfaces and are not perfectly level, factors which influence the direction in which water spirals down their drains. The configuration of taps and drains is responsible for the direction of spin given to water draining from sinks and bathtubs to a degree that overwhelms the slight influence of the Coriolis force.

The belief that the Coriolis force influences the direction in which water drains from plumbing fixtures is widespread and has been repeated as fact in a number of venues, including popular television shows (such as world traveler Michael Palin's Pole to Pole) and even in textbooks. We can only speculate on why people are so enamored of this snippet of misinformation, guessing that it has something to do with the desire to find some of the mysteries of science in the realm of the everyday.

Answer 5

Yes. But many toilets are designed now to flush in one direction creating it's own whirlpool. But generally the Coriolis effect and gravity will change the direction.
What happens if you flush right at the equator ?

Answer 6

Yes it's true, sort of. They do flush the other-way it's because of what's called the Coriolis effect, or Coriolis force. It's the apparent deflection of free moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and the movement to the left in the southern hemisphere, in response to the rotation of the earth. It also affects the the circulation of atmosphere and ocean currents. Look it up. Geography Lives, Amen?!

Answer 7

No, the coriolis effect is not strong enough to change the direction of water drainage in a toilet. (I saw this theory disproved on a travel show).

Answer 8

The best science. When I was in Argentina, it flushed the opposite way. I saw. I believe.

Answer 9

Yes, just like an hurricane spins the other way, south of equator.

Its because of Corrialis forces.

Answer 10

no - that is a myth. the toilets flush in whatever direction they were designed to flush.