Since the Earth is spinning, the objects in its surface are always changing direction, and thereby, changing velocity. So is this not an example of a non-inertial frame of reference?

Question

Since the Earth is spinning, the objects in its surface are always changing direction, and thereby, changing velocity. So is this not an example of a non-inertial frame of reference?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Yes, it is! And there are places where this is important – build an accurate gyroscope, and it will appear to rotate at the rate of 1 rotation per day. And it causes weather systems to rotate.

But for most of the things we do, a rotation rate of one per day isn’t going to be measurable.