How many of you have noticed the sudden switch of water moving in a counter-clockwise fashion?

Question

Water systems here in North America are suppose to move in a clockwise direction. Some people in northern states such as New York have noticed that the water in their bathroom sinks and toliets has suddenlly switched. Any of you finding the same ?

Answer 1

I haven't. This could be caused by a local electromagnetic disturbance though.

Answer 2

The Coriolis force, for objects as small as you would find in your house, is immeasureably small. It takes a very VERY careful experimental setup to observe it:

- A very large, very smooth hemispherical basin
- A drain plug that can open without putting any torque on the water (this is harder than it seems)
- Perfectly still air, no air currents of any kind
- The water must sit undisturbed in the basin for several weeks to allow for turbulence from filling it to fade away completely
- Ambient vibrations must be damped out

Clearly, these conditions do not exist in the typical circumstances for observing water swirling down a drain!

If these conditions are not followed, then the Coriolis effect will be completely overwhelmed by them. And that's not surprising; your own body is about the size of a bathtub, and you never feel a sensation of torque when lying in bed..... unless you have been drinking way too much alcohol!

Answer 3

That's just a myth. Water flows in whatever way it does. It's not true that water flows in the opposite direction in Australia, as some believe.

Answer 4

So, do you think somebody went and broke the Coriolis Effect? Or maybe there's some bad coriolis going around. It's probably related to global warming, too.

Answer 5

6-6-06 is gone. It's a myth dude.

Answer 6

Its not necessary water to follow a path.