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Rate per Hour At Latitude Carried Around Earth's The Axis

At what rate per hour is latitude 60°00' S being carried around around the earth's axis.


GIVEN:    60°00' S latitude

WHAT IS ASKED: Rate per hour at latitude 60°00' S

ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM:

The circumference of the earth at equator is 21,600 nm. So 900 nm/hr is the speed at the equator because earth can finish its rotation in 24 hrs according to textbooks. Though I have to say that I do not believe that the earth rotates around its axis. ( I begin to love geocentrism now).

However, the earth has an oblate spheroid shape. So there must be a difference of circumference at latitude 60°00' compared to the equator. The salient point in the problem is this: If 900 nm is the speed of the earth at the equator, how much then is its speed at latitude 60°00' S?

SOLUTION:

 Speed = 900 x Cos lat
            = 900 x Cos 60°00'
            = 450 nm


I hope this post is helpful to you. If you want to say something, your comment is very much welcome.
                             


2 comments:

  1. sir, i really appreciated how you discuss problems one may encounter during examinations. And as a cadet it helps me alot understand and solve problems with ease with these exercises. Regarding with this post sir, why not use 21600nm as the circumference?

    I will be glad of your response sir.

    ReplyDelete
  2. sailingSagitar,

    I stand corrected.

    I remember I was not trying to be exact when I write this post because I did not have my notes that time.

    ReplyDelete