Silly question but in discusions at work at moment about it.
Does it rotate anti clockwise or clockwise? Would you take your reading from sun?
2007-03-29 20:48:13 · 7 answers · asked by myself 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
anti clock when viewed from above the north pole
in maths this is called negative rotation
2007-03-29 20:58:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the only problem is there is no correct "up" or correct "down" even if viewed from the Sun.
Directly over the top of the North Pole, the Earth would seem to be rotating in a counter clockwise motion, from over the South Pole, clockwise.
If you and I were "standing" on each other's feet--i.e. the bottoms of our shoes were touching each other's-- and facing towards the Earth with our backs to the Sun, you would say the Earth was rotating towards the opposite direction I would. So, bottom line, it is all relative to the observer's perspective and their frame of reference. And, the interesting thing about certain relativistic observers is that they are all correct--even when giving different answers about the same thing. You just have to determine the frame of reference and perspective you're going to use to ask the question.
For most purposes the Earth is said to rotate from west to east.
2007-03-30 05:38:55 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you sat in a helicopter over the south pole it would be rotating in an clockwise direction.. However if you did the same at the north pole the opposite would occur. It's a bit like asking which way does the Sydney monorail go round ?
2007-03-30 04:01:01 · answer #3 · answered by Ted 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anti clockwise in the northern hemisphere, and clockwise in the southern.
Now try spinning a pencil, and invert the axis whilst still spinning; the rotation inverts from clockwise to anti-clockwise.
2007-03-30 05:03:23 · answer #4 · answered by Modern Major General 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anti clockwise when looking down on it above the north pole
2007-03-30 03:52:00 · answer #5 · answered by Squarer 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Obviously depends on which pole you are standing on. Anti clockwise (actually called counterclockwise) at the north pole and clockwise at the south pole.
2007-03-30 03:54:25 · answer #6 · answered by Bullfrog21 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The sun rises(or appears to rise) in the east and "sets" in the west. Can you figure it out from there? One more clue, The earth revolves around the sun.
2007-03-31 03:28:34 · answer #7 · answered by Logical Earthling 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋