Many people are aware that Earth rotates around the Sun every 24 hours. However many people are unaware that the speed at which the Earth rotates varies slightly. It is possible for a day to appear longer or shorter than what you’d expect. This is why the clocks made of atomic energy that keep a standard time must be periodically adjusted by adding or subtracting seconds. This is referred to as leap seconds. This article will explain what a leap second is and why it’s important to our daily schedules.

One of the most common rotating events is precession, which is the oscillation of Earth’s axis, much like a slightly off-center rotating toy top. This axial shift relative to fixed https://northcentralrotary.org/2021/07/13/generated-post-2/ stars (inertial spaces) is a period of 25,771.5. This is also responsible for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include the Chandler wobble free nutation, the polar motion.

In addition to these periodic occasions, the rotator’s speed can be affected by weather conditions and other elements such as earthquakes. For instance, if core of the Earth rotates faster than the outer layer, a day will appear to be shorter. This change is due to tidal forces that is acting on the Earth’s surface as well as gravity pulls of other massive objects within 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.