Abstract
MORE than a century ago it was shown by the mathematician Euler that if the axis round which the earth was rotating were not coincident with the axis of figure, which latter in the case of a spheroidally flattened earth is the shortest axis that can be drawn, the axis of rotation will revolve about the axis of figure in a period which, upon certain assumptions, can be precisely predicted. The time of one revolution of the pole of rotation around the pole of figure depends only upon the shape and degree of elasticity of the earth. In Euler's days the supposition that the solid earth had any appreciable elasticity was so far outside the range of experience that it was not considered by him. He calculated the period of the polar rotation on the assumption that the earth was perfectly rigid, and showed that this period would be about 305 days.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
The Movements of the Earth's Pole 1 . Nature 97, 530–535 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1038/097530b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/097530b0