Many people are aware that Earth rotates around the Sun each 24 hours. However it is not widely known that the speed of rotation differs slightly. This means that a given day may be shorter or longer than expected. The nuclear clocks, that maintain standard time, need to be adjusted periodically by adding or subtracting a second. This is known as leap seconds. This article will clarify what the leap second is and why it is important to our daily schedules.
One standard rotating event is precession, the cyclical wobble of Earth’s axis of rotation, much as a spinny, slightly off-center toy top. This axial shift relative to fixed stars (inertial spaces) has a time of 25,771.5. This is also the reason for the direction of cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include free nutation, the Chandler wobble, and the polar movement.
The speed of the rotator is affected by other factors, such as weather conditions, earthquakes, and other periodic events. For instance, if the core of the Earth is rotating faster than its outer layer, a day can appear to be shorter. This change is caused by tide forces acting on the surface of the Earth and gravity pulls from other objects within the Solar System, such as Jupiter and Saturn. This effect is why the Earth’s rotational speed must be accounted for when designing fun park rides like Ferris wheels and carousels.
