Earth rotates on an axis through its poles. The distance from the axis to a location on earth 30 degree north latitude is about 3429.5 miles. Therefore, a location on Earth at 30 degree latitude is spinning on a circle of radius 3429.5 miles. Compute the linear speed on the surface of Earth at 30 degree north latitude.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Alrighty, well to find the linear speed, first you must find the length of the path of this rotation (the circumference of this circle!) 

To find the circumference, we multiply 3429.5 miles by 2pi for a value of 21548.2 miles for each revolution.

We know earth makes 1 revolution every 24 hours, so we can use this in conjunction with the circumference we found to find the speed. 

take 21548.2 miles per revolution and multiply by 1 revolution per 24 hours (basically, divide by 24) 

So at a latitude of 30 degrees, a point on the surface of the earth is moving with an instantaneous speed of 897.8 miles per hour! :)

artemisxrpg · Answer

Thank you