Most people know that the Earth rotates around the Sun each 24 hours. However many people are unaware that the speed at which the Earth rotates varies slightly. This means that a given day may be shorter or longer than expected. This is the reason Atomic clocks that regulate standard time must be regularly adjusted, adding or subtracting seconds. This change is known as leap seconds. This article will explain how this change occurs, and why it matters to our daily routines.
One typical rotating event is precession, which is the oscillation of Earth’s axis of motion, similar to like a slightly off-center spinning toy top. This axial shift relative to fixed stars (inertial spaces) has a period of 25,771.5. This is also the reason for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include the Chandler wobble free nutation, Polar motion.
The speed of the rotator is affected by other factors such as earthquakes, weather conditions, and other periodic events. For instance, if core of the Earth rotates faster than its outer layer, days will seem shorter. This is due to tides acting on the surface of the Earth as well as gravitational pulls from other large objects in the Solar System, such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is the reason why Earth’s rotating speed has to be accounted for when designing fun park rides like Ferris wheels and carousels.
