2006-12-20 14:37:18 · 14 answers · asked by md5079 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Interesting to note: If you stood directly on the South Pole - the only direction you can go is North.
2006-12-20 14:43:21 · answer #1 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is a very curious question. To answer it fully, one needs to understand the positional system used for a rotating sphere (such as the Earth).
It is only because the Earth rotates that a system of latitude and longitude has been established.
Why isn't there an East pole and a West pole? If your question had been "Anyone think it's possible to go so far East that you'll eventually be going West?", then I think the unanimous reply would have been "no".
So, why is it that North/South is so different from East/West?
Well, to begin with, lines of longitude all intersect at two, and only two points. The North and the South poles, which are the intersection of the Earth's axis with its surface. Lines of latitude NEVER intersect, of course they are all parallel.
So, as LeAnne has pointed out, when it is not possible to go any further south, you are at the south pole, and the only direction is North. If your velocity towards the South pole was proportional to your displacement from the South Pole, then you would stop when you got there, and would not go any further!
Hope this helps.
2006-12-20 15:08:25 · answer #2 · answered by Mez 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By definition, were you to stand exactly at the South Pole, the only direction you could walk would be North.
2006-12-21 11:46:22 · answer #3 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You'd freeze by then.
You can only go so far south before you get to the pole. Then, as your use of the word "eventually" implies, continuing to go south becomes a nonoption, and the only option is to go north. Therefore, it is impossible to go so far south as to go north. now... if you took a southern bearing and followed it in a straight line, than you would go north. or, if you rephrased it to say "go so far south, that you can go north," than it is true.
2006-12-20 14:47:53 · answer #4 · answered by Brandon Jackson 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, silly, just fly over the South Pole.
2006-12-20 14:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes, as soon as you reach the south pole and travel back you are going north
2006-12-20 14:44:28 · answer #6 · answered by haggisbasher 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes. once one passes the south pole, then they will start going north.
2006-12-20 18:08:21 · answer #7 · answered by Das Schnabeltier 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, when you pass the south pole.
2006-12-20 14:39:54 · answer #8 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes.........at the south pole
2006-12-20 14:55:55 · answer #9 · answered by Michael B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On Earth, yes, on Universe, who knows?
Universe is expanding.
2006-12-20 14:45:27 · answer #10 · answered by Report Abuse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋