This is known as the coriolis effect. There is quite a lot of facts about it, if you look in the internet.
Down the Plug Hole
Never mind wasting our brain cells on all that high scientific jazz, what about this :-
I have just come down from my bathroom, having witnessed one of natures greatest and oldest phenomena.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the water in our sinks swirls down the plug hole anticlockwise and in the Southern Hemisphere I am told it swirls down clockwise. It this true and if so, why ?
But what happens on the Equator ? Does it just plop down the hole with no rotation ?
I do not believe all that diversion about design of sinks and other fob-off stuff, this is Mother Nature at her best. I made sure the water was absolutely still with the door and window shut for a still air job and then removed the plug very carefully and the water started to swirl anticlockwise.
Glug - Glug !
I have just come down from my bathroom, having witnessed one of natures greatest and oldest phenomena.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the water in our sinks swirls down the plug hole anticlockwise and in the Southern Hemisphere I am told it swirls down clockwise. It this true and if so, why ?
But what happens on the Equator ? Does it just plop down the hole with no rotation ?
I do not believe all that diversion about design of sinks and other fob-off stuff, this is Mother Nature at her best. I made sure the water was absolutely still with the door and window shut for a still air job and then removed the plug very carefully and the water started to swirl anticlockwise.
Glug - Glug !
1 - 20 of 98 Posts
it is NOT true.....take a look at the toilet, you'll see that the water jets actually force the water counter or clockwise; otherwise, what would happen to the toilets ON the equator?In the Northern Hemisphere, the water in our sinks swirls down the plug hole anticlockwise and in the Southern Hemisphere I am told it swirls down clockwise. It this true and if so, why ?
The toilet is too forceful an example. You must have a still environment to show the phenomena properly.it is NOT true.....take a look at the toilet, you'll see that the water jets actually force the water counter or clockwise; otherwise, what would happen to the toilets ON the equator?
The Coriolis effect does not appear to be relevant according to this write up :-This is known as the coriolis effect. There is quite a lot of facts about it, if you look in the internet.
"Myth of the Coriolis Effect
One of the biggest misconceptions associated with the Coriolis effect is that it causes the rotation of water down the drain of a sink or toilet. This is not truly the cause of the water's movement. The water itself is simply moving too fast down the drain to allow for the Coriolis effect to have any significant impact.
Though the Coriolis effect does not in fact influence the movement of water in a sink or toilet, it does have a an impact on wind, the ocean, and other items flowing or flying over the earth's surface, making the Coriolis effect an important component of the understanding of many of physical geography's most important concepts."
http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/coriolis.htm
The plot thickens,
close.......but not quite. The Coriolis effect is indeed very real, but the sizes of the bodies of water that you are referring to are simply too small to experience it.
http://www.livescience.com/33567-toilet-swirl-direction-equator.html
because science.
http://www.livescience.com/33567-toilet-swirl-direction-equator.html
because science.
I honestly am interested what the members think about this, it is not as simple as it seems. It rather looks like the Coriolis effect is a dead end.
My suspicion at the moment is that it is due to a combination of the Earth`s rotation and the change in magnetic polarity between the North and South Poles, plus of course Gravitational pull due to the Earth`s mass..
My suspicion at the moment is that it is due to a combination of the Earth`s rotation and the change in magnetic polarity between the North and South Poles, plus of course Gravitational pull due to the Earth`s mass..
something else to remember; that old phrase 'a butterfly farts in china, and colorado gets a tornado'......that is also due to the Coriolis effect. Ocean currents, sailors, pilots, basically anyone who travels on this curved planet need to figure that into their calculations.
Sort of like how we need to figure in the calculations for Special Relativity even when using GPS.
Sort of like how we need to figure in the calculations for Special Relativity even when using GPS.
I said that the Coriolis effect was a dead issue concerning water flowing down plug holes, due to the logic expressed in Post 5. There is no dispute that it applies to the atmospheric and tidal considerations outlined in your post, which are quite different. Water draining down plug holes is another aspect of Earth`s behavior.something else to remember; that old phrase 'a butterfly farts in china, and colorado gets a tornado'......that is also due to the Coriolis effect. Ocean currents, sailors, pilots, basically anyone who travels on this curved planet need to figure that into their calculations.
Sort of like how we need to figure in the calculations for Special Relativity even when using GPS.
Pretty sure I didn't state anything whatsoever that refuted your statement regarding Coriolis and it being a dead issue. Quite obviously it is not, as we are still here, and we still have ocean currents and wind.I said that the Coriolis effect was a dead issue concerning water flowing down plug holes, due to the logic expressed in Post 5. There is no dispute that it applies to the atmospheric and tidal considerations outlined in your post, which are quite different. Water draining down plug holes is another aspect of Earth`s behavior.
what I did state, however, was that the bodies of water that you are focusing on are simply too small to view changes.
Sorry Valis if I misunderstood you.Pretty sure I didn't state anything whatsoever that refuted your statement regarding Coriolis and it being a dead issue. Quite obviously it is not, as we are still here, and we still have ocean currents and wind.
what I did state, however, was that the bodies of water that you are focusing on are simply too small to view changes.
But at least we have decided that the bodies of water are too small for any Coriolis effect. This is exactly what Post 5 said.
Something cause the swirl and a reversible N to S switch. Back to magnetic fields, rotation and gravity ?
no worries.....this is the internet, after all, and we are humans, and we get something like 85% of communication from non-verbal clues.......misunderstanding is part of the game, apparently.Sorry Valis if I misunderstood you.
I wouldn't think magnetism, but definitely rotation and gravity, yes.Back to magnetic fields, rotation and gravity ?
The trouble with Science is that you very often get disagreements and even opposing theories. Does`nt sound much like a Science does it, unlike Mathematics where there is only one correct answer.
With two opposing scientific theories, they cannot both be correct, but they can certainly both be wrong.
With two opposing scientific theories, they cannot both be correct, but they can certainly both be wrong.
the old 'my pedagogy is right so yours is necessarily wrong' fallacy.....
I've a friend of mine I've known since 77 or so, and he is EASILY the biggest nerd I've ever met. The gent has a masters in EE, teaches solving Rubik's cubes at uni level, and just a pretty solid guy. Obviously teaches math on the side, and that quote is directly attributable to him. He uttered it when I told him:
I've a friend of mine I've known since 77 or so, and he is EASILY the biggest nerd I've ever met. The gent has a masters in EE, teaches solving Rubik's cubes at uni level, and just a pretty solid guy. Obviously teaches math on the side, and that quote is directly attributable to him. He uttered it when I told him:
His argument? Having a perceived dichotomy OR a real dichotomy of one and only one correct answer will eventually turn the lessons learned against BOTH the teacher and the students, as the teacher unconsciously wants to teach, and the students want to learn. If they both believe that there is only one answer, they will soon go down the wrong path.Does`nt sound much like a Science does it, unlike Mathematics where there is only one correct answer.
Only iron, nickle and cobalt are affected by magnetism (excluding rare earth examples) definitely not water.no worries.....this is the internet, after all, and we are humans, and we get something like 85% of communication from non-verbal clues.......misunderstanding is part of the game, apparently.
I wouldn't think magnetism, but definitely rotation and gravity, yes.
That is a misunderstanding of what a scientific theory is:The trouble with Science is that you very often get disagreements and even opposing theories. Does`nt sound much like a Science does it, unlike Mathematics where there is only one correct answer.
With two opposing scientific theories, they cannot both be correct, but they can certainly both be wrong.
- A theory must originate from, and be well supported by, experimental evidence. It must be supported by many strands of evidence, and not just a single foundation.
- A theory must be specific enough to be falsifiable by testing. If it cannot be tested or refuted, it can't qualify as a theory.
- A theory must make specific, testable predictions about things not yet observed.
- A theory must allow for changes based on the discovery of new evidence. It must be dynamic, tentative, and correctable.
I think hypotheses can be opposing but not theories, facts, observation, evidence cannot support two opposing assumptions. Scientists do not disagree with theories; just the details, as in the last point above. A theory allows for change and refinement; dogma does not.
Dear ValisI wouldn't think magnetism, but definitely rotation and gravity, yes.
I do not wish to hog my own thread, but I suppose all this stuff will make it easier for others when they come online. Put a bit of meat on the bone.
I would just emphasize that between N and S Poles :-
Gravity is constant.
Rotation is in the same direction and constant.
Magnetic Field varies completely opposite in polarity.
So, Rotation and Gravity can account for swirl actually taking place in both the N and S hemispheres, but cannot account for reversal of flow direction. Only the reversal of Magnetic polarity can account for a change in water flow direction from ACW to CW each side of the Equator. The exact Equatorial mid-point being neutral.
Jimbo.
Damn good to see you. Hope all is well up in the GWN, mon ami.
Damn good to see you. Hope all is well up in the GWN, mon ami.
Greetings, Tim. All is fairly well, especially with new baby girl that stole my heart.
I have been reading up on critical thinking and logical fallacies and when I spotted this thread I was compelled to reply.
Here is another article on the subject from the same site:
What is the Coriolis Effect and does it really affect my toilet water?
It included excellent reference links at the bottom of the article.
I have been reading up on critical thinking and logical fallacies and when I spotted this thread I was compelled to reply.
Here is another article on the subject from the same site:
What is the Coriolis Effect and does it really affect my toilet water?
It included excellent reference links at the bottom of the article.
Fabulous ! Whoever you are. What a wonderful informative link. So we can forget Coriolis Then what is the answer for both the swirl taking place and the change in flow direction between the N and S hemispheres ?Greetings, Tim. All is fairly well, especially with new baby girl that stole my heart.
I have been reading up on critical thinking and logical fallacies and when I spotted this thread I was compelled to reply.
Here is another article on the subject from the same site:
What is the Coriolis Effect and does it really affect my toilet water?
It included excellent reference links at the bottom of the article.
As you have no doubt have already read, my guess is reversed magnetic polarity.
I'm just an ordinary guy that's been hanging around here since 2002. Tim and I (I retired as a community mod last year), and many other hard working Moderators, helped the Administrators, especially Tech Guy, create this forum. My part in it was very minor but I am proud of the results. I hope you enjoy it here.Fabulous ! Whoever you are, what a wonderful informative link. So we can forget Coriolis Then what is the answer for both the swirl and change in flow direction ?
I have never given it much thought as it seems too trivial a matter upon which to spend time.
1 - 20 of 98 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Tech Support Guy
A forum community dedicated to tech experts and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about articles, computer security, Mac, Microsoft, Linux, hardware, networking, gaming, reviews, accessories, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
