Why is it that when you flush the toilet above the equator it goes clockwise and below, goes counterclockwise?

Answer 1

the earth's gravity

Answer 2

The "Coriolis Effect" is a real, physical phenomenon, but it only affects large scale systems, such as ocean currents, air masses, and storms on our planet (or any other for that matter). I think it has to do with the differential drag of fluid or gas masses interacting with the surface of the Earth, other fluid or gas masses, convectional heating, differences in pressure, temperature, and density, and the rotation of the Earth on it's axis. They way water swirls down a drain or in a toilet has more to do with the initial direction and velocity of the moving water, the surface shape and finish, and anything like a screen or grate that may be in the drain. I can easily make the water swirl either clockwise or counter-clockwise just by stirring the draining water the direction I want it to go with a stick, spoon, or other utensil, and it will continue to go that way until drained; it doesn't suddenly revert to going counter-clockwise when I stop stirring.

The Coriolis Effect is real, but the masses of water in your sink or toilet are too small to be affected by it.

N.

Answer 3

ok. SOME toilets make the water go backwards.. so let's use the water in a sink going down the drain (ok?)...

to begin with.. the water is at some altitude.. on a spinning earth.. so it has a certain amount of momentum

as the water goes lower (it does not take much) it starts to move forward.. because it has more speed than the water under it.. ok.. and the tiny difference between the height of the water from the earth's axis... (closer to equater is higher and so has more momentum).. so it begins to turn slowly at first.. but the continuous decent to lower altitudes continues to add more energy into the spinning action.. so it goes faster and faster...

on the northern hemisphere... the northernmost side of the water is actually closer to the axis than the southern side of the water.. because they both in a plane perpendicular to a line coming from the center of the earth.... so... the southernmost water will move westward as the water decends.. and this makes the water go down the drain in a clockwise manner...

On the southern hemisphere... the northernmost water is higher from the axis of rotation.. and so the northernmost water moves west.. creating a counter-clockwise motion.

Answer 4

Which way the water spins as it drains actually has nothing to do with which side of the equator you're on (nor does it have anything to do with the Coriolis force). Which way the water spins as it drains is arbitrary and mostly due to the shape of the toilet bowl it self.

Answer 5

It doesn't matter where you are. What makes the toilet water flush the way it does is the design of the toilet

Answer 6

It's not a myth. It's called the Coriolis force.

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/gifs/coriolis.mov

Answer 7

its all to do with a couple of things... the Coriolis effect is one and the other is the shape and size of the hole in which the water is travelling, have a closer look next time you wash your hands.

Answer 8

it's not a myth it's called the coriolis affect and it is caused by the spin of the earth.

Answer 9

It has to do with the rotation of the Earth on its axis

Answer 10

it is an urban legend. the shape of the bowl has much bigger impact on this that rotation of earth

Answer 11

that information is incorrect , but if you want a answer to make sense its the way the earth is on it axis