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Because the only points of reference we have when we look out is the earth and things on it within our view (such as mountains and distant trees etc.), and as we are also on the earth, these things don't move in relation to us as we look at the sun, so it 'must be' the Sun which moves.

The same effect can be observed when you are on one of two trains which are stopped side by side - as one moves off, it can be difficult to tell which train is moving, because your points of reference have changed suddenly.

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16y ago

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Earth rotates in which direction?

Every point on Earth rotates from west to east. If you hang suspended over the north pole looking down at it, you see the Earth rotating counterclockwise (from right to left). If you hang suspended over the south pole looking down at it, you see the Earth rotating clockwise (from left to right).


Why ours is a finite earth?

It's a spherical earth, shaped that way because of it spins around its own axis. On land, if you were to walk around Earth, it would seem infinite (go round in circles), you can only see that it is finite when you see it from another dimension, from outer space.


Does earth have rings around?

No, Earth does not have any rings around it. Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune are the planets in our solar system that have rings. Earth is not one of them.


What causes the foucault pendulum to change direction?

It doesn't change direction; there is no force on it (perpendicular to the plane in which it swings) that would cause it to do so. It APPEARS to change direction relative to the Earth, but the Earth is a rotating frame of reference. If you watch the pendulum from a frame of reference above the Earth and the pendulum, you would see that it swings back and forth in its plane of oscillation. See the famous movie FRAMES of REFERENCE, with Professors Hume and Ivey, made in 1959, to see an excellent demonstration of this. Using a rotating frame, they show that a camera in the rotating frame appears to show the pendulum changing direction. Using a camera above the rotating frame, fixed to the floor, they show the pendulum never changes direction; only the frame rotates. . It swings back and forth in the same plane. There is no force on it to make it change


What altitude is required to see the curvature of the Earth?

The altitude needed to see the curvature of the Earth is typically around 35,000 feet or higher, which is the cruising altitude of commercial airplanes.

Related Questions

Why it seem to see the sun rotating around the Earth?

because earth is rotating around itself while revolving around the sun


Does the moon rise like the sun?

Yes, since the moon is rotating around the earth, it is not always visible. If it is on the the other side of the earth, then a person could not see it. The difference is that the sun rises and sets because the earth is rotating on its axis, while the moon rises and sets because it is rotating around the earth.


How is 90degree north latitude different from 90 degree south latitude?

"90 degrees north latitude" is the definition of the Earth's north pole. If you're suspended over it looking down at it, then you see the Earth rotating counterclockwise around it. "90 degrees south latitude" is the definition of the Earth's south pole. If you're suspended over it looking down at it, then you see the Earth rotating clockwise around it. Note: In both cases, "down" means "toward the center of the Earth from where you are".


Why do stars seem to make a circle in the sky?

The stars, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, appear to circle around Polaris, the North star. They seem to circle around the north pole because the Earth rotates, while the stars are still. As we spin around, stars move out of our view and new ones enter. When looking up to the North pole, it is possible to see stars appear to be slowly spinning around the North star. In the Southern Hemisphere there is no conveniently located star but the stars still seem to spin around a point in the sky. The Sun seems to circle the Earth but again, the Earth is rotating and the sun is still. It's actually Earth that is spinning.


Is there a place on earth that is one side day time and one side night time?

Yep. The earth is always rotating so if it is the middle of the earth, then you will see that there is.


Person sitting in an artificial satellite of the earth have?

A person in an artificial satellite around Earth would experience weightlessness due to the constant freefall towards Earth. They would also see the Earth rotating beneath them, experiencing multiple sunrises and sunsets in a single day. Additionally, they would be shielded from Earth's atmosphere and be able to see the curvature of the planet.


Can you see the earth rotating on its axis from space?

Of course. You may have to wait a while but the rotation would be obvious.


Why do we have a sunset?

The sun does not go down, the Earth spins around. You were at a spot where the Earth turned to the point that you can't see the sun anymore. However, every morning, the Earth finishes its rotation, letting you see the sun again.


Does the moon always presents the same side to the Earth but someone on the moon could see the earth revolving once in every?

Yes. The moon only revolves without rotating while the Earth revolves and rotates... Moon moves around the Earth, but not on its own axis. Earth spins on its axis and moves around the sun. Since they go at different speeds, someone on the moon would essentially be able to see all of the Earth (if they were up there long enough).


Why does the same side of the moon always face the earthy?

The Moon always faces the same side because its gravity with Earth makes it pull around us. When you see half of the Moon its because of the way Earth is rotating or how the Moon is positioned.


Do we always see the same side of the Moon How do you know?

We do not always see the same side of the moon, because while its orbiting the Earth, it is also rotating on its axis, as does Earth. The rotation of the Earth on its axis is what causes night and day.


Why do you see the sun but not the other stars?

Day and night are caused by Earth rotating. At night the part of Earth you are on is facing away from the sun, so Earth itself blocks the sun from view.