2007-02-24 09:27:04 · 8 answers · asked by riesjex 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Well, the answer to your question starts way back with the Big Bang. Matter spun off of this original explosion (much like water spins in smaller circles when you swirl your hand through it). The Earth and other planets continue to spin unless acted on by an outside force (a big comet hitting the planet, etc).
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 wa y 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.
2007-02-24 09:38:10 · answer #1 · answered by Jason 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the natural spin of most things in the universe. Venus and Uranus spin differently because probably of impacts with larger objects (planet sized objects). Mercury has an odd rotation because it is partially locked tidally to the sun.
"Only a race as arrogant as ours would consider the natural spin of the universe "counterclockwise" - Stephen Hawking
2007-02-24 17:38:35 · answer #2 · answered by Mark T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's because of the rotation of the solar nebula (in which the planets were created) during the formation of the Sun. Venus is the odd one out, however, and its predicted that its rotation was affected by a collision in the past.
2007-02-24 17:35:53 · answer #3 · answered by Bhajun Singh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Huh? The Earth does NOT turn around to the left... when viewed from above, it turns counter clockwise and THAT is FROM the left towards the right.
Every few million years or so, the earth rotates on it's axis and that leads to it's direction of rotation
2007-02-24 17:37:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It can't turn in both directions at once, so it has to turn one way or the other. If it turned the other way, you'd still be asking more or less the same question.
2007-02-25 04:15:00 · answer #5 · answered by Martin 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Probably because something big hit us billions of years ago.
2007-02-24 17:32:56 · answer #6 · answered by nintendo_obsession 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, We watched a video in biology, and apparently it is because when our moon hit us billions of years ago, it affected us, tilting the earth, and causing it to rotate.
2007-02-24 17:30:04 · answer #7 · answered by lifelesswonder 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
With respect, would it make any difference to your understanding of the Earth?
2007-02-24 17:35:06 · answer #8 · answered by MildMellow 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋