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Chapter 11: Problem 1

Does Earth's angular velocity vector point north or south?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Earth's angular velocity vector points to the North.

Step by step solution

01

Right-hand Rule Basics

From physics, the direction of an angular velocity vector is determined by the right-hand rule. If the fingers of the right hand are curled in the direction of rotation, the extended thumb points in the direction of the angular velocity vector.
02

Apply to Earth

The Earth rotates from west to east, meaning it rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed from the North Pole. If the right-hand rule is applied, your right hand should curl around the Earth in the direction of rotation (West to East), and the thumb (representing the direction of angular velocity) points upwards from the North Pole.
03

Conclusion

So, according to the right-hand rule, Earth's angular velocity vector points north, not south, when viewed in this manner. Thus, the Earth's angular velocity vector points to the North.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A uniform, solid, spherical asteroid with mass \(1.2 \times 10^{13} \mathrm{kg}\) and radius \(1.0 \mathrm{km}\) is rotating with period \(4.3 \mathrm{h} .\) A meteoroid moving in the asteroid's equatorial plane crashes into the equator at \(8.4 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s} .\) It hits at a \(58^{\circ}\) angle to the vertical and embeds itself at the surface. After the impact the asteroid's rotation period is \(3.9 \mathrm{h} .\) Find the meteoroid's mass.

A skater has rotational inertia \(4.2 \mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\) with his fists held to his chest and \(5.7 \mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\) with his arms outstretched. The skater is spinning at 3.0 rev/s while holding a 2.5 -kg weight in each outstretched hand; the weights are \(76 \mathrm{cm}\) from his rotation axis. If he pulls his hands in to his chest, so they're essentially on his rotation axis, how fast will he be spinning?

A car is headed north at \(70 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{h}\). Give the magnitude and direction of the angular velocity of its 62 -cm-diameter wheels.

A gymnast of rotational inertia \(62 \mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\) is tumbling head over heels with angular momentum \(470 \mathrm{kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2} / \mathrm{s} .\) What's her angular speed?

Why does a tetherball move faster as it winds up its pole?
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