Lug Holes

[OmanYorkie]

If water going down a plug hole in the northern hemisphere goes clockwise, and in the southern hemisphere goes down anticlockwise, is there a place on earth where is goes straight down??

[sddsddean]

The Equator (allegedly)

[boxtops]

I thought this was another thread about molly's ear ;-)

[anneasquith]

boxy you get back to molly, ive had enough for one night, lol

[boxtops]

absolutely anne, I would much rather discuss the dynamics of water.

[jomifl]

whilst in theory water will behave as you describe, in practice it doesn't happen because nobody has built a sink big enough.

[Fair-Stumped]

It's a myth. In my student days (several moons ago) I could make the water go down the sink in my hall of residence in both directions. I can't remeber which way was which but by adding a few flakes of washing powder the flow could be reversed.

[Buenchico]

According to Stephen Fry on QI, the whole clockwise/anticlockwise theory is (as Fair-Stumped has stated) a total myth.

Chris

[Quizmonster]

In the 1950s, engineers at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology built a massive tank with a small plug-hole. They filled it and left it to settle for several days, then opened the valve. In each of the many repetitions of the experiment, the water DID start to swirl in an anticlockwise direction. When they deliberately set up a clockwise swirl, it invariably died down and returned to anticlockwise. The explanation, apparently is that - if the water has settled completely - it is rotating, along with everything else on earth. The fluid particles nearest to the equator are obviously moving more quickly than those furthest from it and, when they are released, they develop their characteristic direction-finding properties.
As regards "ordinary" plugholes, it's a myth.

[chakka35]

I'm astonished that this myth has lasted so long considering that anyone can check it in the comfort of his own home, so to speak.

If I try pulling the 7 plugs in our house they certainly do not all empty in the same direction, nor are they individually consistent in their directions if I try it several times.

The truth is that the Coriolis effect is negligible compared with all the other influences which decide which way the water is going to move on any particular occasion.

[jomifl]

chakka did you pull your plugs with your left or right hand, it would make a difference, also if you pulled it with a chain or had one of those lever plug lifter gadgets (sometimes they have a distinct bias to one side). You would have to have the window closed in case there was a draught that might cause a swirl. Sounds like a phd project to me.. probably already has been one.

[OmanYorkie]

Thanx guys and gals. As I do not have seven plug holes I can not test the theory, however, what is this about molly's ear!?!?

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your reply, OmanYorkie.

Molly's ear is 'ere:
http://www.theanswerb...l/Question943420.html

[boxtops]

^^^ and I was reminded of the thread, Oman, as your title says Lug Holes not Plug Holes....

[tamborine]

on the loo

[nightmare]

Every so often , I have obseved my bath emptying (I know, it's sad) without the water rotating in either direction.
This can happen if the water has been left to stand for some time and you use minimal disturbance removing the plug.
Otherwise, it can rotate in either direction. Again , I have observed this for some years .............OK, I'll get a life