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Solar Differential Rotation
Name: Tri
Status: student
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Why does the sun spin faster at equator than at the poles?
Replies:
Hi Tri;
You can look at this problem in one way, and that is to first define
what velocity is. Velocity is the distance traveled over time.
The circumference of the sun at the equator is much larger, than
it is at the poles. The time it takes to travel over one revolution
is the same. Hence the distance over time, velocity, is much greater
at the equator. Given that, the speed at the equator and pole of the
sun, or in general, any circular or spherical object involves the
radial distance from the center. With respect to the radius (the
distance between the center and the circumfrance), v(elocity) = (2*Pi*r)/t.
Hence, since the radius is larger at the equator, than at the poles,
it follows that the velocity at the equator is higher, or faster.
Hope that helps.
Alex Viray
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Update: June 2012
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