Chapter 11, Problem 1FTD

Does Earth’s angular velocity vector point north or south?

To determine

The direction of an angular velocity of an earth.

Answer to Problem 1FTD

The direction of an angular velocity of an earth is $\underset{\_}{\text{North}}$.

Explanation of Solution

The earth rotates from west to east about its axis, as look form the top view it would rotate anti-clockwise direction. From the right hand rule in mechanics if an object or body rotates about an axis in anti-clockwise direction the angular velocity vector points towards the upward direction.

Therefore by right hand rule the angular velocity vector in the case of earth rotation points toward north direction.

Therefore, the direction of an angular velocity of an earth is $\underset{\_}{\text{North}}$.