why isn't there east and west poles?

Answer 1

The quick answer is because there is nothing special there, geographically speaking. No magnetic pole, no rotation pole. In fact if there wasn't a man-made convention for 0 longitude, there would be no way of determining an east or west pole.

BUT ... the earth is not actually an oblate spheroid. It is tri-axial, which means that there are 6 "poles". It is possible to determine the earth's equatorial principal moments of inertia, using gravitational maps. The "a" axis lies along the (14.93 deg W, 165.07 deg E) diameter, and the "b" axis lies perpendicular to it along the (75.07 deg E, 104.93 deg W) diameter.

So the "west pole" is at 14.93 deg W, and the "east" pole is at 165.07 deg E. I don't know what to call the other two poles, on the "b" axis.

Answer 2

Well to start poles stand for polarity. This is a magnetic phenomenon. So there is indeed two points on the earth where all the magnet fields collapse into the planet. This is why you see coro-boliallis or (northern lights). Also, you will notice the earth spins. The north and south points just rotate, the rest of the planet travels in a circle.

Answer 3

The north and south poles are on the axis of rotation of the earth. Since the earth only rotates on one axis there are only two poles. If the earth rotated on two axises there could be an east and west pole as well as a north and south pole.

Answer 4

It's because of the earth's magnetic nature. The earth is a huge magnet and the opposite poles are what we call the north and south poles.

Answer 5

Theres no poles to the east or west.

Answer 6

The Poles who plumb down the street are from the East. Maybe that counts!

Answer 7

The poles are opposite ends of a magnetic field.

Answer 8

because north & south are poles, east & west are not.

Answer 9

Because nothing rotates about the East and West.

Doug

Answer 10

A pole's only got two ends.... lol