What is the velocity of the Earth?
"The Day the Earth Stood
Still" may be a great title for a movie, but
it certainly doesn't have any bearing in reality. While an evening of
stargazing may give you the impression that all the world is still, the
truth is that the Earth is always in
motion.
The gravitational pull between the Earth and Sun causes the Earth to
orbit the Sun at a velocity of 29.8 km/sec. At the same time, the Earth
also rotates on its axis causing the
daily cycle of day and night. This "rotational velocity" is
approximately .47 km/sec.
This means that at the same time we're hurdling through space at
nearly 67,000 mph, we're also spinning at over 1000
mph! Whew! Almost makes you dizzy, doesn't it?
Submitted by Arthur
(August 6, 1997)
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