With the advancement of science and technology, human astronomical technology is also developing rapidly.
We know that in this universe, essentially all celestial bodies are in motion, and of course, our Earth is no exception. We live on Earth every day, yet we completely fail to perceive this rotation.
Do you want to feel the Earth’s rotation? Observe these 4 phenomena, which are commonly encountered in daily life.
Observing the Sun
By looking at the Sun, we can see that the Earth rotates daily.
During summer, the Sun is clearly visible every day. We can observe that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west each day. Our Earth also experiences day and night. The reason for these phenomena is the rotation of the Earth. Since the Sun is the star of our Earth, it illuminates and warms our planet. However, because our Earth is a sphere, only one side can be seen at a time, and as the Earth rotates, one side is illuminated, resulting in day, while the opposite side experiences night.
Observing the Stars
If you observe for a while, you will see that the stars continuously change positions.
Similarly, you can choose to observe the stars during summer. The summer night sky is filled with stars, allowing you to look up and gaze at them. The best time to do this is to spend a little longer observing, and you will notice that the stars continuously change positions, moving from west to east. This is also caused by the Earth’s rotation, rather than any movement of the stars themselves.
Observing Water Vortices
The direction of these vortices rotates counterclockwise.
This phenomenon can be seen in our bathtubs or sinks. First, fill these containers with water, then cover the drain at the bottom. You will see a swirling water current. However, the direction of these vortices is not random; you will notice that they all rotate counterclockwise. This is also caused by the Earth’s rotation, but it is divided into northern and southern hemispheres, with clockwise rotation occurring in the southern hemisphere.
Observing Climbing Plants
Climbing plants can sense the Earth’s rotation.
Although humans cannot perceive the Earth’s rotation, these climbing plants can. Just like the vortices formed by water currents, their growth patterns also divide into northern and southern hemispheres. They grow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. This is also true for storms and cyclones, which are divided between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the direction of the vortices formed by the flow being the same. The wind direction is influenced by the Earth’s rotation affecting atmospheric circulation.
By observing these four phenomena, we can clearly understand that the Earth is continuously rotating. Humans cannot perceive the Earth’s rotation because there is no frame of reference; if we observe it from the perspective of the solar system, we can see that the Earth is indeed rotating.
