Question
Who has the greater rotational speed, a person living on the equator or one living in New York City?
Step 1
Rotational speed, often measured in revolutions per unit of time, is the number of complete rotations, cycles, or turns a moving object makes. In this case, we are considering the rotation of the Earth. Show more…
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The fact that the Earth rotates gives people in New York a linear speed of about $335 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}(750 \mathrm{mi} / \mathrm{h})$. Where should you stand on the Earth to have the smallest possible linear speed? The greatest possible linear speed?
While standing on the rotating Earth, is your centripetal acceleration greater on the equator or at latitude $45^{\circ}$ north?
If all of Earth's inhabitants moved to the equator, how would this affect Earth's rotational inertia? How Would it affect the length of a day?
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