0
At some point, most of us have heard that water spins down a drain in different directions depending on which hemisphere we happen to be in. The fact is, the Coriolis force (an apparent force as a result of the Earth's spin) has virtually nothing to do with which direction water spins as it empties down a drain. Although this force is "real" and does have an affect on other large, long lived systems that travel great distances (such as hurricanes, high and low pressure systems, and long range artillery shells), water draining from toilets, sinks, and bathtubs are rendered virtually immune from its affects. The Coriolis force is much too weak to have any affect on such small, short lived rotating bodies of water under normal conditions.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What way do tornado turn in the southern hemisphere?
Nearly all tornadoes in the southern hemisphere turn clockwise.
Which way do currents move in the northern hemisphere southern hemisphere?
Currents in the Northern Hemisphere move in a clockwise direction. Currents in the Southern Hemisphere move in a counter clockwise direction.
Which way do winds rotate in a tropical depression?
Winds in a tropical depression rotate counterclockwise if it is in the northern hemisphere and clockwise if it is in the southern hemisphere.
Is it true in December the shortest daytime is in the southern hemisphere?
Yes, it is true. In December, which is summer in the southern hemisphere, the tilt of the Earth causes the southern hemisphere to be tilted towards the sun. This results in longer days and shorter nights in the southern hemisphere during this time of the year. Conversely, the northern hemisphere experiences its shortest daytime and longest nighttime in December.
Is spring the first season in the year?
Usually it is spring, summer, autumn, winter. However, that is the case in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, it would be autumn. Another way of looking at it is that it is winter when the year starts in the northern hemisphere and spring is the first season entirely in the year in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, it is summer when the year starts and autumn is the first season entirely in the year.
Why does water go down the drain one way?
Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with the latitude or the Coriolis effect. Toilets and sinks drain in the directions they do because of the way water is directed into them or pulled from them. The Coriolis effect is the reason why hurricanes rotate clockwise in the southern hemisphere, and counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. But you need a very large amount of moving air and water for it to take effect.
Does water drain counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere?
That is a myth. Although cyclonic storms tend to rotate the way you describe, water vortexes do not. The particular shape and configuration of the drain, as well as the initial conditions of the swirl, play a much greater role in determining which way the vortex rotates. Although there is such a thing as coriolis, you can't observe it on anything smaller than a storm system. The idea that water spins one way or the other when going down the drain is an urban legend.
Which way does it drain in northern hemisphere?
Counter clockwise.
Which way do currents rotate in the southern hemisphere?
The gyres rotate counter clockwise in the southern hemisphere, and clockwise in the northern hemisphere.
What way do tornado turn in the southern hemisphere?
Nearly all tornadoes in the southern hemisphere turn clockwise.
Which way do winds turn in the southern hemisphere?
Winds curve/turn towards the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Which way does a toilet flush in the southern hemisphere?
In the southern hemisphere, toilets can flush in either direction depending on the design of the plumbing and the toilet itself. The direction of the flush is not determined by geography or hemisphere.
Which way do currents move in the northern hemisphere southern hemisphere?
Currents in the Northern Hemisphere move in a clockwise direction. Currents in the Southern Hemisphere move in a counter clockwise direction.
Is there a way you can cut the world in half?
Yes and it's the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere
What way does the wind move in the southern hemisphere?
southeast
Are the sun's rays striking the Northern or Southern hemisphere the most during the summer?
well if you say it that way, it depend which hemisphere you live in. We live in the northern hemisphere, so the sun rays strike to the southern hemisphere.
Does tropical storm spin the other way?
The spin is counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
