Thread: Linear Speed of the Earth

Earth rotates on an axis through its poles. The distance from the axis to a location on Earth 40 degrees north latitude is about 3033.5 miles. Therefore, a location on Earth at 40 degrees north latitude is spinning on a circle of radius 3033.5 miles. Compute the linear speed on the surface of Earth at 40 degrees north latitude.

Originally Posted by magentarita

Earth rotates on an axis through its poles. The distance from the axis to a location on Earth 40 degrees north latitude is about 3033.5 miles. Therefore, a location on Earth at 40 degrees north latitude is spinning on a circle of radius 3033.5 miles. Compute the linear speed on the surface of Earth at 40 degrees north latitude.

Use the same methos as for the other problem, compute the circumference of the circle that the point 40 degrees N moves along and divide by the period (in this case 24 hours).

RonL

This will give me a chance to try this one alone using your steps.