Many people are aware that Earth rotates around the Sun each 24 hours. However many people are unaware that the speed of rotation can vary. This means that a given day may sometimes feel shorter or longer than anticipated. The Atomic clocks, which keep the standard time, have to be adjusted on a regular basis by adding or subtracting one second. This is known as the leap second. This article will discuss how this change happens, and why it matters to our daily schedules.

One typical rotating event is precession, a periodic wobble of Earth’s central axis, much like a slightly off-center rotating toy top. The axial direction change relative to fixed stars (inertial space) is a continuous cycle of 25,771.5 years. It’s also responsible for switching the directions of cyclones across the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include free nutation, the Chandler wobble and polar motion.

In addition https://northcentralrotary.org/2019/11/15/do-you-organize-international-events to these periodic events, the rotator’s velocity can also be affected by weather conditions and other elements including earthquakes. For instance, if the core of the Earth rotates faster than its outer layer, a day can feel shorter. This is due to tides acting on the surface of the Earth, as well as gravitational pulls from other objects in the Solar System, such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is the reason it’s crucial to consider the Earth’s rotational speed when designing fun park rides such as Ferris wheels and Carousels.