Crossing the Equator
Northern Hemisphere experiment
On the Equator experimentOur 10 hour journey south from Kampala took us over the equator. We must have crossed it heading north but it wasn't marked in any way. This was not the case on the road between Kampala and Mbarara.
Here the equator was clearly marked as an angled line across the road. Each end was marked by a concrete hoop that showed the north -south divide and proudly marked the equator. Perfect for a photo as you can see.
It was also perfect for a little local enterprise in the form of a science project.
It is well known that the Earth's rotation causes water to disappear down the plug-hole in a clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern. What does it do on the equator?
A young man was on hand to demonstrate the plug hole phenomenon and kindly gave us a 10 minute show for a fee of about £10.
We began in the southern hemisphere. A metal bowl with a hole in the bottom was filled from a bucket of water. Flowers were placed in the water to show the flow and hey presto! The water was clearly rotating anti-clockwise.
We then moved to similar set up, about 20 yards away in the northern hemisphere. Bingo! The water rotated in a clockwise direction.
Finally, we stood at a bowl on the equator. To much ooo ahhing the water disappeared straight down the plug hole. Science at it's best. Magnus Pike eat your heart out.
But just pause for a moment to consider what we saw. Is it possible? I know the equator is an imaginary line around the Earth that divides north and south, but surely it's more than a few feet wide? How can the effect be so marked in containers only about 20 yards apart?
Easy. It was all a con.
When the show was over a closer inspection of the apparatus used revealed imperfections in the surface of the containers that would cause water to act according to the script.
Sorry to ruin the illusion. I can also show you how David Blaine levitates if you want your day completely spoiling.
I can't leave it there though. In the interests of finding the truth I went to the nearest toilet. After peeing not quite on the equator, but very close to it, I filled the sink with water and pulled the plug. I didn't have any flowers handy but to me it was clear what happened - the water disappeared vertically down the plug hole. No magic involved.
Here the equator was clearly marked as an angled line across the road. Each end was marked by a concrete hoop that showed the north -south divide and proudly marked the equator. Perfect for a photo as you can see.
It was also perfect for a little local enterprise in the form of a science project.
It is well known that the Earth's rotation causes water to disappear down the plug-hole in a clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern. What does it do on the equator?
A young man was on hand to demonstrate the plug hole phenomenon and kindly gave us a 10 minute show for a fee of about £10.
We began in the southern hemisphere. A metal bowl with a hole in the bottom was filled from a bucket of water. Flowers were placed in the water to show the flow and hey presto! The water was clearly rotating anti-clockwise.
We then moved to similar set up, about 20 yards away in the northern hemisphere. Bingo! The water rotated in a clockwise direction.
Finally, we stood at a bowl on the equator. To much ooo ahhing the water disappeared straight down the plug hole. Science at it's best. Magnus Pike eat your heart out.
But just pause for a moment to consider what we saw. Is it possible? I know the equator is an imaginary line around the Earth that divides north and south, but surely it's more than a few feet wide? How can the effect be so marked in containers only about 20 yards apart?
Easy. It was all a con.
When the show was over a closer inspection of the apparatus used revealed imperfections in the surface of the containers that would cause water to act according to the script.
Sorry to ruin the illusion. I can also show you how David Blaine levitates if you want your day completely spoiling.
I can't leave it there though. In the interests of finding the truth I went to the nearest toilet. After peeing not quite on the equator, but very close to it, I filled the sink with water and pulled the plug. I didn't have any flowers handy but to me it was clear what happened - the water disappeared vertically down the plug hole. No magic involved.
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