Most people are aware that the Earth revolves around the Sun each 24 hours. However, not everyone knows that the speed at which the Earth rotates differs slightly. A day may appear longer or shorter than you would expect. The Atomic clocks, which keep the standard time, have to be adjusted periodically by subtracting or adding one second. This is referred to as a leap second. This article will explain how this change occurs, and why it matters to our daily routines.

One standard rotating event is precession, which is the cyclical wobble of Earth’s axis of rotation, much as a slightly off-center spinning toy top. The axial direction change relative to fixed stars (inertial space) is observed for a period of 25,771.5 years. It’s also responsible in changing the directions of cyclones across the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Other rotating events include the Chandler wobble free nutation, the polar motion.

In addition to these https://northcentralrotary.org/2019/11/16/rotating-events-in-our-time regular events, the speed of a rotator can be affected by weather conditions and other factors, including earthquakes. For instance, if core of the Earth is rotating faster than its outer layer, days will appear shorter. This is due tidal force acting on the Earth’s surface as well as the gravitational pulls from other large objects in the Solar System such as Jupiter and Saturn. This is why it’s important to consider the Earth’s speed of rotation when designing fun park rides like Ferris wheels and Carousels.