Is it true that if you are bang on the equator, the water goes straight down the plug hole, instead of spiraling?
2007-05-27 01:55:22 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
No. This is urban legend supposedly based on the coriolis effect.
Water goes down the toilet depending on the plumbing implemented in a location.
The coriolis effect does not influence how water goes down a drain.
Read here: http://www.snopes.com/science/coriolis.asp
2007-05-27 02:07:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
No, a fluid body needs to be much, much larger than a toilet bowl, sink or bucket to be noticeably affected by the Coriolis effect (it shouldn't strictly be called a force because it's only a pseudoforce), and the shape of the container has a far bigger effect. Back in the 1950s some scientists tried to keep a bowl of water still enough for the Coriolis effect to influence it, but for a fluid of everyday size it would take hours before anything could be seen (their results were inconclusive). Anyone who claims to show you otherwise over the equator is only trying to get your money for a cheap trick - watch closely and you'll see them give the water a knock in the 'right' direction each time!
2007-05-27 04:46:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mitch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's called a trap. Under any drain, there is a bent piece of pipe called a trap. It is intended to hold water in the bend so that any gas or odor in the drain pipe can't come up into the room, The water fills the bend in the pipe blocking any air from passing. If you look under any sink you will se the bent pipe. Hope this helped
2016-05-19 00:01:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Coriolis effect would rely on a totally symmetrical basin and absolutely still water. This equator stuff is an urban myth as this effect, based on one rotation of the earth in every 24 hours is just too tiny in a basin - it does have an effect on much much larger scale events, eg weather systems. So in answer, it can vortex either way - some people make a nice little earner on the equator 'demonstrating' the effect, but I'm afraid it's just sleight of hand.
2007-05-27 02:17:04 · answer #4 · answered by jaffacake 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Well, sort of.
The only problem being that the Equator is a very defined line, and therefore hard to find exactly.
We therefore see in reality that one minute it runs out spiralling clockwise, the next minute counter counterclockwise.
2007-05-27 23:04:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is, I was on a ship crossing "the line" and we delibrately set out to see what happened.
2007-05-27 02:01:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anchor Cranker 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nope .. that's just bad science; aka urban legend. Read all about it
http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadCoriolis.html
2007-05-27 02:50:47 · answer #7 · answered by Gene 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes.
2007-05-27 02:03:46 · answer #8 · answered by Julie 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i tried this during my travels, & it went straight & in australia it went anti clockwise.
a plumber once told me it was due to the types of plumbing
2007-05-27 02:05:47 · answer #9 · answered by wonderingstar 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't know, but if you will cover my expenses I will go and find out!
2007-05-27 01:59:35 · answer #10 · answered by Dellboy from UK 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋