yet we measure time clockwise?
2006-12-03 16:53:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Given that 15% of your own answers are regarded as "Best Answers", I don't consider you a hoax, but rather someone with a very inquisitive mind!
The clock was based upon the sundial originally, and since the sundial was "invented" in the Northern Hemisphere, the shadow of the pointer would move in a clockwise direction around the face. Hence the first clocks had "hands" that move clockwise!
Of course, these days, many clocks and watches have digital faces, and no doubt in time, (no pun intended!), the reason for the clockwise direction of the motion of the hands will be lost!
Good question. Oh, and by the way, if the sundial had been invented in the Southern Hemisphere, "clockwise" would be in the opposite direction!!
2006-12-03 18:10:04 · answer #1 · answered by Mez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earth has been rotating the same direction ever since it formed. Since it was formed from swirling matter, it just kept moving in the same kind of spinning motion. As for the direction, there is no real reason the Earth has to be spinning the way it is. Several planets spin the other direction (relative to their orbital motion). If Earth were spinning the other way, we would just have sunrise in the West and sunset in the East
As someone mentioned above, clocks are moving clockwise since their early predeccesors, sun dials, went in that direction... then we're speaking of the northern hemisphere.
2006-12-04 02:00:16 · answer #2 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Measuring time is just a human convention, it coudl have gone either way. The universe doesn't spin, it expands. I already explained why the earth spins counter-clockwise. Are you just wasting our time here?
PS
I only said that because I'm suspicious when one person suddenly posts so many questions in a row about the same topic, you hardly give us time to answer one adn you are asking the next. No insult intended.
2006-12-04 00:57:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. Only from one perspective. From the south pole, the earth would appear to be spinning clockwise. The universe would be the same way viewing it from a different angle. I know, smart *** answer. Why it spins at all and in that direction though, that's a good question. Certain forces just started it a loooooong time ago.
2006-12-04 00:57:04 · answer #4 · answered by shanky2001 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who knows if the Earth and the Universe really spin counter-clockwise????? No one, i.e. the public has seen it really happen. It is just a bull-shitt theory of those old guys in nasty history books and some nerds who sit like a frog in comfy chairs with their stomach outside (all those shitt scientists)
You know sometimes I really doubt that if all those rockets and shuttles go to space.
IT ALL A HOAX AND A GREAT LIE. WE HUMANS ARE USELESS AND HAVE NOT ACHIEVED ANYTHING AT ALL.
I WISH SOME POWERFULL ALIEN CIVILIZATION COMES AND ELIMINATES THE HUMAN RACE.
2006-12-04 01:00:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The movement of earth is counterclockwise because of its inclination from its axis(23.5 deg) , because of this inclination constraint our earth moves from west to east .that makes sunrise in the east only.Even to our universe same principle is applied
To have a clockwise direction(retrograde) the inclination must be greater than 90 degrees ,
Why we measure the time in clockwise,its all depends on how we manufacture watches ; its in our hands
2006-12-04 03:51:17 · answer #6 · answered by raghu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hands of our clocks move in the same direction as the shadow of a sundial, in the northern hemisphere at least. The apparent motion of the sun, not the actual motion of the Earth, is being modeled.
The universe as a whole is not spinning. Individual bits of it spin every which-way.
2006-12-04 01:26:03 · answer #7 · answered by injanier 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on which way you are looking at the earth?
If you look down upon the Earth from a point in space above the North pole it would appear to rotate anti-clockwise.
If you look down upon the Earth from a point in space above the South pole it would appear to rotate clockwise.
2006-12-04 00:58:04 · answer #8 · answered by Okole 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you are only looking at it from the north pole. As seen from the south pole, it appears to spin clockwise. You can take your pick.
2006-12-04 00:55:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Which pole are you looking at the earth from?
The reason we have clocks the go "clockwise" is that the latin lanuages are read from left to right.
2006-12-04 00:57:56 · answer #10 · answered by Cooljerk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋