The majority of people are aware that the Earth revolves around the Sun each 24 hours. However it is not widely known that the speed at which the Earth rotates is not the same every day. A day can sometimes seem longer or shorter than you would expect. The atomic clocks, which maintain standard time, need to be adjusted periodically by adding or subtracting one second. This is referred to as a leap second. This article will explain how this change occurs and why it is important to our daily routines.
Precession is a common rotating event. It is the cyclical wobble in Earth’s axis, similar to a toy that spins slightly off-center. The axial direction change relative to fixed stars (inertial space) has a time lapse of 25,771.5 years. This is also responsible for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include free nutation as well as the Chandler wobble, and the polar movement.
In addition to these recurring events, the speed of a rotator can also be affected by weather conditions and other factors like earthquakes. If the core of Earth moves faster, a day feels shorter. This is due to the tidal force exerted on the Earth’s surface as well as the gravitational pulls from other large objects within the Solar System such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is the reason that the Earth’s rotational speed must be accounted for when designing fun park rides such as Ferris wheels and carousels.