Water flows down the plug-hole in the direction it is introduced into a sink or drain. The effects of Coriolis - when the rotating earth causes the winds to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and the left south of the equator - it is too weak to affect your bath or toilet! Can you think of any more myths to blow?
2006-12-14 11:19:42 · 12 answers · asked by Lounger 1 in Environment
IT'S A MYTH!! CAN YOU EXPOSE ANY MORE ONES??
2006-12-14 11:44:35 · update #1
IT'S A MYTH! Why do people not believe that? The Coriolis effect ONLY works on MASSIVE bodies of water (e.g. ocean) - not a sink full. You can easily make it flow the other way in a sink or bath. At the equator the force =0 yet some wise guy will scam you for some cash and pretend water flows the other way each side of the equator, where the force is still pretty much still 0.
Possible candidates for testing:
Lightening never strikes twice.
If the wind changes when you pull a face it'll stay like that.
W*nking makes you go blind.
2006-12-15 00:20:44 · answer #1 · answered by Rickolish 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Providing the water is not interfered with by an external force, i.e. stirred up, it will rotate clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern. (See cyclones and anticyclones on weather maps). It is a result of the Earth turning and is a gyroscopic effect. Nothing to do with wind or gravity or the position of the moon or Auntie Mabel's mixer tap!
2006-12-14 17:56:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The mythbusters team checked this out.
It's a myth.
There's too many other factors, more powerful than the earths rotation, which affect water rotation.
E.g. the shape of the basin or bowl, existing currents in the water, the shape of the plughole, etc.
So this theory is a load of 'plugholes'.
Next myth - Edison invented the light bulb.
(Be careful with this one - check your facts)
2006-12-14 11:34:01 · answer #3 · answered by efes_haze 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its a total myth that water goes clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
you can just swirl the water with your finger and make it change direction.
myth-busted.
2006-12-14 12:37:40 · answer #4 · answered by mainwoolly 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
nothing to do with the winds. water drains clockwise in the sink/bath in the northern hemispere and anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere. it's due to the north and south poles.
2006-12-14 11:37:11 · answer #5 · answered by raygsd 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti clockwise in the southern
2006-12-14 11:27:05 · answer #6 · answered by Davy Crockett 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's nothing to do with wind.
It has EVERYTHING to do with one of two things.
Rotation of earth (weak force) & introduced direction of flow (overcomes Coriolis).
It IS true...the myth is that it isn't!!
2006-12-14 12:39:35 · answer #7 · answered by creviazuk 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kentucky USA- clockwise
China- counterclockwise if I remember right
2006-12-14 11:23:46 · answer #8 · answered by thechinamom 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i live in england, its going clockwise by the look of it
2006-12-14 11:27:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
clockwise northern hemisphere
anticlockwise southern hemisphere
check this out it explains it nicely
http://www.scienceyear.com/outthere/index.html?page=/outthere/plughole/background.html
2006-12-14 11:42:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋