For instance, Earth, with poles oriented north to south, it turnes clockwise on it's axis. Who's to say what is up or down? couldnt the poles reverse without much climatic effect? Then looking at it from that perspective it would be rotating counter-clockwise. I suppose my real question is, omitting the effects of gravity, is there an up or down in the universe?
2007-03-08 13:41:06 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Hi. Actually, looking down on the North pole the Earth rotates counter-clockwise. The spin is determined by the conservation of angular momentum, as in all objects. And on Earth, up and down are away from or towards the gravity field. Ask anyone in Australia!
2007-03-09 15:05:40 · answer #1 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there is no up and down.
There is a galactic plane and an ecliptic, or solar system plane and an equator for each planet. But the designation of up or down from any of these planes is arbitrary.
2007-03-09 12:05:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋