Most people are aware that the Earth revolves around the Sun each 24 hours. However most people don't know that the speed at which the Earth rotates is not the same every day. This means that a given day may sometimes seem longer or shorter than anticipated. That is why the Atomic clocks that regulate standard time must be regularly adjusted by adding or subtracting seconds. This is referred to as leap seconds. This article will explain what it is and why it's important to our daily routines.
A typical rotating event is precession. It is the circular wobble of Earth's axis, much as a slightly off-center spinning toy top. This change in axial direction relative to fixed stars (inertial space) has a cycle of 25,771.5 years. This is also responsible for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include the Chandler wobble, free nutation and Polar motion.
The speed of the rotator may be affected by other factors such as weather conditions, earthquakes, and rotating events in our time other events that occur regularly. For instance, if the core of the Earth rotates faster than its outer layer, a day will appear to be shorter. This change is caused by the tidal forces that are acting on surface of the Earth and gravitational pulls from other objects within the Solar System, such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is the reason the Earth's rotational speed must be considered when creating fun park rides like Ferris wheels or carousels.
