Physics

Hi, the effect is real its called the corillis effect (if i've remebered it correctly). And it influences the direction in which water drains away. This force gets larger the further away you are from the equator, so you need to travel a long distance to get a pronanced effect. However the size of the force is tiny and the water experiences much bigger effects from, the shape of the bowl, turbealnce from washing hands (the way the plug is removed), temperature, etc. For this reason the effect is very hard to observe, however it has been experimentally observed using careful manufactured bowls and electronic plugs so not to influence the water flow placed a long way from the equator.

I doubt it would be the same on a plane as it is one earth because of the difference in motion. Also, the plane toilets usually suck the water out before it gets a chance to drain. Science has proven that water does prefer to drain in a certain direction though, and this is proven by many scientists and physicists.

i think you are rihgt

what is plughole??

i hate physics.

a very interesting read.well done on writing this discussion.keep it up and i hope you dont mind me wishing you a merry christmas and a happy new year.all the best in 2006

Hehe really great post But i dont think that water gushes down in a particular direction Ofcourse if the surface is inclined it will go all straight down ANd it will gush due to gravity!

Ive heard many things but I think it turns or drops all the same way.

Wow.. thats very ..very interesting..You've revived my interest in physics all over again, i should thank you.

It is not that the water has a preferred direction. This is known as the coriolis effect. This effect is also seen in weather patterns.

I think that is the same on the air as on the earth. I mean, why should it be different?

This is a well known phenomena .. and in Southern Hemisphere water swirls the opposite way of the Northern Hemisphere .. isn't it all to do with the magnetic field of the earth?? I know I've read that the boffins are expecting the earths magnetism to change round in the near future .. and if that does happen it's going to play havoc with the way our basins and baths drain as of course all the plughole fittings are directional to improve drainage ... even toilets have flush mechanisms to optimise which way the water flushes round ... It could all be very interesting ...

Yes...water has a preferred direction in going down the plughole BUT it's not because of which earth's hemisphere you do the test but mainly because of the sink's structure. The earth's rotation is too weak to affect it but of course what is sure is that gravity acts upon it that's why it has to go down the drain. Also, the force of gravity will be dependent on the distance from the earth. 'Guess it's one of those science myths .

I read somewhere that it goes clockwise on one side of the equator & anti clockwise on the other, you can make it go in the opposite direction sometimes by restricting the way the water drains away.

well slow down a bit you dont require a jet its very diffcult for you to know when equator has passed maybe someother mistake

the laws of fluid dynamics have nothing to do with this.....on brainiac on discovery they once tried this n proved that its just an urban myth

The above two commenters have it right. The first commenter's note about plane facilities is correct - there is suction applied to the drains and therefore you do not see this clockwise or counter clockwise motion. These motions have to do with the rotation of the Earth and is called the Coriolis Effect. And yes, there have been rigorous experiments done. The second commenter noted there are much greater influences on how water drains, and this tends to counteract the Coriolis Effect in drainage situations. If you want to know more about the Coriolis Effect, Wikipedia has a fantastic entry for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect Thanks for asking! ~Wyrdsister

why don't u try the next experiment. put water in two small recipes at one say "God" and at the other say "Satan" then put them in the freezer. the net day oberve them at the microscope.

no

now a day's the world is considered as infinite so the ques.. arises that what th hell thing is infinite other then universe and numbers because only fools can think of the answer of numbers so i have kept it in an exception