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Himal kharel
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Is it true that bathtubs in northern hemisphere the water drains out in clockwise rotation and those in southern hemisphere in anticlockwise direction?
If so then why?
And in equator?
If so then why?
And in equator?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect#Draining_in_bathtubs_and_toiletsIn 1908, the Austrian physicist Otto Tumlirz described careful and effective experiments which demonstrated the effect of the rotation of the Earth on the outflow of water through a central aperture.[28] The subject was later popularized in a famous article in the journal Nature, which described an experiment in which all other forces to the system were removed by filling a 6-foot (1.8 m) tank with 300 US gallons (1,100 l) of water and allowing it to settle for 24 hours (to allow any movement due to filling the tank to die away), in a room where the temperature had stabilized. The drain plug was then very slowly removed, and tiny pieces of floating wood were used to observe rotation. During the first 12 to 15 minutes, no rotation was observed. Then, a vortex appeared and consistently began to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (the experiment was performed in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Northern hemisphere). This was repeated and the results averaged to make sure the effect was real. The report noted that the vortex rotated, "about 30,000 times faster than the effective rotation of the Earth in 42° North (the experiment's location)". This shows that the small initial rotation due to the Earth is amplified by gravitational draining and conservation of angular momentum to become a rapid vortex and may be observed under carefully controlled laboratory conditions.
DaleSwanson said:Wikipedia details the lengths necessary to observe the Coriolis effect in draining water:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect#Draining_in_bathtubs_and_toilets
Himal kharel said:And in equator?
Danger said:...training your turds to curl in the opposite direction...
DaveC426913 said:And I now have my weekend project!:tongue2:
Lsos said:My Earth science teacher in high school specifically taught us that the toilet water spins due to the coriolis effect.
Grizzled said:this same force determines... the direction your cat wraps its tail around when sitting!
The Coriolis effect, which is caused by the rotation of the earth, is often cited as the reason for the difference in bathtub water drainage between the northern and southern hemispheres. However, this effect is only significant on large scales, such as in weather patterns, and has little to no impact on the small scale of a bathtub.
No, there is no scientific evidence to support this idea. The Coriolis effect is not strong enough to affect the direction of water drainage in a bathtub. Factors such as the shape of the tub, the direction of the water flow, and any obstructions in the drain are much more likely to determine the direction of drainage.
This belief is often perpetuated by popular culture and misconceptions about the Coriolis effect. In reality, the direction of water drainage is largely determined by the shape and set up of the tub, and not by the hemisphere in which it is located.
Yes, there are several other factors that can impact the direction of bathtub water drainage. These include the shape and size of the tub, the speed and direction of the water flow, and any obstructions in the drain. These factors are much more influential than the hemisphere in which the tub is located.
No, conducting experiments to compare bathtub water drainage in the northern and southern hemispheres is not scientifically useful. The results would likely not yield any significant differences, as other factors play a much larger role in determining the direction of water drainage. This is a popular myth that has been debunked by scientists.