Air Travel & Atmosphere
Stationary Earth
As touched upon on another page, another proof that the Earth does not move is air travel. Many people have no doubt asked the question whether it is quicker to travel one way around the Earth than the other by air, and usually they are easily fobbed off with one excuse or another. Let us now look in depth at this phenomena, and see for ourselves the truth.
Earth 'rotation' basics
Of course, the idea is that the Earth rotates once every 24 hours. Now imagine a clock face, with a sweeping seconds hand. You can see that the whole hand makes one revolution every minute. However, the centre point simply revolves around its pivot point (pole). At the other end of the arm, although still only taking one minute to revolve, the second hand has travelled the circumference of the clock. It is clear that a much larger distance is travelled at the end of the arm, than at the pivot point (pole). The same principle is true if the Earth rotates. At the pole, the Earth would just seem to revolve, where as at a point on the equator the whole Earth needs to turn once every 24 hours. This distance is approximately 40080km or 24900 miles. If we divide this figure by the 24 hours in a day we get 1670 km/hr or 1038mph. This means that if you were travelling from one point to another on the equator, you should need to allow for this incredible speed. If you were hovering above the North pole and looking down, we are told that the Earth would be spinning in an anti-clockwise manner.
An example
The distance between Ecuador and Kenya is approximately 12760 km or 7930 miles. Both lie on the equator, so therefore, the alledged rotation of the Earth should have the most obvious effect.
An average passenger plane would probably cruise at about 750 km/hr or 466 mph. This speed is significantly less than the supposed rotation of the Earth alone, so the journey from Ecuador to Kenya, would be impossible as the mere theoretical rotation is faster than the plane itself!
We went to the website www.happyzebra.com and entered Kenya and Ecuador into their distance calculator. The results appear below. Notice that the estimated journey time in either direction IS EXACTLY THE SAME! HOW CAN THIS BE??? (clue: The Earth does not rotate)
Earth 'rotation' basics
Of course, the idea is that the Earth rotates once every 24 hours. Now imagine a clock face, with a sweeping seconds hand. You can see that the whole hand makes one revolution every minute. However, the centre point simply revolves around its pivot point (pole). At the other end of the arm, although still only taking one minute to revolve, the second hand has travelled the circumference of the clock. It is clear that a much larger distance is travelled at the end of the arm, than at the pivot point (pole). The same principle is true if the Earth rotates. At the pole, the Earth would just seem to revolve, where as at a point on the equator the whole Earth needs to turn once every 24 hours. This distance is approximately 40080km or 24900 miles. If we divide this figure by the 24 hours in a day we get 1670 km/hr or 1038mph. This means that if you were travelling from one point to another on the equator, you should need to allow for this incredible speed. If you were hovering above the North pole and looking down, we are told that the Earth would be spinning in an anti-clockwise manner.
An example
The distance between Ecuador and Kenya is approximately 12760 km or 7930 miles. Both lie on the equator, so therefore, the alledged rotation of the Earth should have the most obvious effect.
An average passenger plane would probably cruise at about 750 km/hr or 466 mph. This speed is significantly less than the supposed rotation of the Earth alone, so the journey from Ecuador to Kenya, would be impossible as the mere theoretical rotation is faster than the plane itself!
We went to the website www.happyzebra.com and entered Kenya and Ecuador into their distance calculator. The results appear below. Notice that the estimated journey time in either direction IS EXACTLY THE SAME! HOW CAN THIS BE??? (clue: The Earth does not rotate)
It is worth mentioning that there are atmospheric conditions which have an effect on travel times, and as the happyzebra website points out, the above are approximations. (note: the usage of happyzebra should not be seen as their endorsement of this website). Trade winds and jet streams can have bearings on flight times, but there is no phenomena remotely similar to the supposed constant rotation of Earth of up to 1670km/hr.
The usual explanation
This obvious proof that the Earth does not move at all, is tried to be explained away, by claiming that Earths atmosphere magically and imperceptively moves in exact synchronicity with the Earth. This is complete and utter rubbish. This would mean that a slight breeze felt while sitting in your sunlounger at the equator of 1km/hr might actually be 1671km/hr! There is no scientific mechanism to explain this marvel. It is likened to travelling in a car whilst your children play catch on the back seat. Because the car and the air in the car are all travelling at the same speed, it doesn't matter what speed the car travels, the game is unaffected. The principle is fine, and works, until you wind down the window or open the sunroof! There is no known way for gravity or anything else to somehow move the air along with the Earth or any other body. Even if this notion were true (and we stress that there is absolutely no evidence that it is!) the idea is flawed anyway.
As we discovered earlier, the speed of apparent rotation depends on the latitude (0km/hr at the poles upto 1670km/hr at the equator). This means that the theoretical magic atmosphere MUST match the rotational speed exactly at every latitude to be imperceptable. Unfortunately for this to work, there would be a constant breeze when travelling longitudinally (vertically). We all know that there is no constant breeze when travelling longitudinally so the theory disproves itself!
If you have any questions or comments, please email us
The usual explanation
This obvious proof that the Earth does not move at all, is tried to be explained away, by claiming that Earths atmosphere magically and imperceptively moves in exact synchronicity with the Earth. This is complete and utter rubbish. This would mean that a slight breeze felt while sitting in your sunlounger at the equator of 1km/hr might actually be 1671km/hr! There is no scientific mechanism to explain this marvel. It is likened to travelling in a car whilst your children play catch on the back seat. Because the car and the air in the car are all travelling at the same speed, it doesn't matter what speed the car travels, the game is unaffected. The principle is fine, and works, until you wind down the window or open the sunroof! There is no known way for gravity or anything else to somehow move the air along with the Earth or any other body. Even if this notion were true (and we stress that there is absolutely no evidence that it is!) the idea is flawed anyway.
As we discovered earlier, the speed of apparent rotation depends on the latitude (0km/hr at the poles upto 1670km/hr at the equator). This means that the theoretical magic atmosphere MUST match the rotational speed exactly at every latitude to be imperceptable. Unfortunately for this to work, there would be a constant breeze when travelling longitudinally (vertically). We all know that there is no constant breeze when travelling longitudinally so the theory disproves itself!
If you have any questions or comments, please email us