4 ms·

Rotation relative to what?

• analog31 1y ago
  I consider this to be a good question, but with a reasonably familiar answer: Rotation is absolute. Unlike linear motion, you can tell if you're sitting in a rotating frame of reference or not. Experiments such as the Coriolis force, and Foucault's pendulum, are demonstrations of this principle. In fact, a historical oddity is that when this idea was nailed down by both theory and experiment, the Catholic Church dropped its ban on heliocentrism. (Not that it mattered, the horse had already left the barn).
  • natch 1y ago
    Thanks! That makes sense, but didn't come to mind right away for some reason.
  • quickthrower4b6 1y ago
    [dead]