Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

JesseLaces t1_jdl2blr wrote

Reply to comment by HeebieMcJeeberson in If earth was a smooth sphere, which direction would water flow when placed on the surface? by Axial-Precession

Towards instead of away as the earth spins? I feel like the poles would make more sense, no?

−1

HeebieMcJeeberson t1_jdlgk5n wrote

The rotation will try to fling the water away from the Earth's axis, and the farthest place from the axis is the equator. No matter where you place the water, it will flow toward the equator since there's no terrain to stop it. In the real world, where ocean water is free to flow around, sea level at the equator is actually a little higher than near the poles for this reason.

17

[deleted] t1_jdmluwa wrote

[deleted]

3

Ausmerica t1_jdl5eo6 wrote

I think I understand what you're trying to say, that water would sit at the poles since there will be less inertia there? But that would be missing the entire point of inertia, think about the practical applications that would often be labeled as centrifugal force. The fastest point on a spinning sphere is the equator.

12

Fleaslayer t1_jdl6z0s wrote

The earth is spinning and the mass wants to move to the outer edge of the spin, which is the equator, which is why the earth bulges a little there. For the same reason, the water would want to move to the equator.

6

Axial-Precession OP t1_jdl2sst wrote

The Nile runs from south to north but I don’t know what the topology is like.

−6

JesseLaces t1_jdl3tkw wrote

All rivers flow from high to low.

Also, the equator is below the Nile. Runs north away from the equator.

16

WorstMedivhKR t1_jdlyf4c wrote

Egypt is higher than sea level, therefore it runs south to north.

0