The spinning Earth
The Earth is, to a good approximation, a big sphere
of radius R = 6.37 x 106 meters.
It spins around its central axis.
- What is the angular velocity of the Earth?
Provide both magnitude and direction.
- What is the linear speed of a person standing on
the equator, relative to the center of the Earth?
We live in Rochester, NY, at a latitude of +37 degrees.
As a result, we travel in a somewhat smaller circle as
the Earth rotates each day.
- What is the linear speed of a person standing at Rochester,
relative to the center of the Earth?