Is it true that water spirals down the drain in one direction in the Northern Hemisphere?

Question

and in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer 1

i heard the same thing, from a plumber!

Answer 2

No dude. The water goes down the drain in whatever direction you send it. Most toilets have an outlet that spins the water in a certain direction. Ie. it's located on one side of the bowl. If it's on the right side of the bowl, and it sends the water counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere, the action of the draining water would not be reversed by moving the same toilet to the southern hemisphere. This explanation (as so many other's do) requires a brief qualification. There is an infinitely small affect exerted on the water by not only the spin of the earth, but also the moons position (and the sun's position, and the position or your nuts). In the same way these affects can not overcome the initial spinning of the water, if you could remove all other influences (vibrations, make the water absolutely still, do not set in in motion at all), and u had enough time (maybe 1 year), and an accurate enough measuring device (say... God?), then yes, the water would spin opposite from North to South hemisphere. But.. just stay in school.

Answer 3

That actually IS true! I'm from Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere and I've been living in America for the past 6 years and the first thing I noticed was the water spiraling in the opposite direction to what I've been used to my entire life...

Answer 4

Yeah, it's true! I lived in Uganda for 17 years, the equator splits the country into two almost equal parts. You can visit the equator and there are alot of nice shops and things selling tribal art and traditional music instruments... One of the cool things to see there is a guy with a bucket and a funnel. He stands on one side of the equator and pours water into his funnel, the water spins in one direction, then he goes to the other side and the water spins in the opposite direction. It's pretty cool to see. The guy who said he saw it on myth busters is an idiot. Anyway, it's true, it's called the coriolis effect. You have to be careful to let the water settle before you let it down the drain because the earth's rotational forces that cause the coriolis effect are very small and so the force of water flowing out of a tap is more than enough to offset it. If the water is allowed to settle and then let down the drain, in the northern hemisphere it will flow anti-clockwise and in the southern hemisphere, it will flow clocwise.

Answer 5

Yes clockwise and it is the opposite in the southern hemisphere

Answer 6

It's a myth. Although the coriolis effect does play a part in it. It is more dependent on the shape of the toilet and water flow than anything else.

As far as a sink, not too sure about that one. It's certainly a possibility though.

Answer 7

i think so lets test im in the Southern Hemisphere mine goes anti clockwise i just checked

its no myth i'm a mclovin i'm in australia now i checked it

Answer 8

Yes it's true.

Didn't you see the episode of the Simpsons when Bart rang Australia to find out?

Answer 9

Yes and you can ask Joe from Australia
when he comes back from where ever
it is that he went.
It's Labour Day in Australia today,
so I guess,
they are on holiday.

Answer 10

I think it's just the design of the toilet, but it could be possible because of Earth gravity and magnetic field.

Answer 11

yes i think its the rotation of the earth so the top goes one way the bottom is opposite