AST 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Foucault Pendulum, Water Cycle, Asthenosphere
Document Summary
Rotation: demonstrated by a foucault pendulum or by the coriolis effect. The pendulum was invented in france, and it swings the same direction at all times while the earth turns below it. The coriolis effect is when something is trying to move straight across the earth, it actually curves: things curve right in the northern hemisphere and the left in the southern hemisphere. Precession: demonstrated by the aberration of starlight. Aberration=distortion: demonstrated by the changing position of the ncp on the celestial sphere. The earth"s atmosphere, oceans, and surface are extraordinarily active! Stands out because much of it is covered by liquid water and has an atmosphere with lots of oxygen. The energy that power"s the earth"s weather system comes from the sun: the water cycle, as the surface is heated, the air moves ( convection currents ) are produced in the atmosphere.
