2006-10-27 11:07:43 · 8 answers · asked by filotofo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The circumference of the Earth at the equator is 25,000 miles. The Earth rotates in about 24 hours. Therefore, if you were to hang above the surface of the Earth at the equator without moving, you would see 25,000 miles pass by in 24 hours, at a speed of 25000/24 or just over 1000 miles per hour.
2006-10-27 11:10:26 · answer #1 · answered by ggroess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed at which you'd have to travel depends entirely on the latitude at which you complete your circle... the answers you already have assume you are traveling at the equator and the speed they have given will keep the traveler at about the same distance from dawn as he or she started out at. However, if your traveler were to leave from somewhere at or near the 45th parallel... say someplace in Japan, the required speed would be far less...about 680 mph
If this is a school homework project, surprise your teacher and ask for the traveller's latitude.
2006-10-27 18:19:34 · answer #2 · answered by decodoppler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the 1000 mph answers are correct, assuming you are at the equator. At any other latitude, the speed is slower because you are close to the axis of the Earth. Regardless of latitude, an average speed of once around the Earth per 24 hours will make the Sun stand still in the sky.
To figure the speed for your latitude, multiply 1000 mph by the cosine of your latitude. If you arent into cosines, at 30 degrees it is 870 mph, at 45 it is 700 mph and at 60 degrees it is 500 mph.
2006-10-27 18:15:15 · answer #3 · answered by Pretzels 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The night's shadow moves along the equator at about 1000 mph, so if you moved at that same speed, you'd stay at exactly the same time for as long as you kept it up. Note that if you travel too fast, you hit nighttime from the other side.
2006-10-27 18:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does anyone think that you would have to move more slowly the closer one gets to the poles? If you go 1000 an hour100 miles south of the North Pole, don't you think you might get dizzy?
2006-10-27 18:18:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'd have to fly and you'd probably end up pretty much where you started, about 28 hours later
2006-10-27 18:10:25 · answer #6 · answered by holmegirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roughly 1000 m.p.h.
2006-10-27 18:10:21 · answer #7 · answered by oceansoflight777 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just over 1000 miles per hour.
2006-10-27 18:10:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋