Two people place flags simultaneously on the surface of the Earth: one flag just north of the South Pole (at approximately 85 degrees), and one flag at the equator (approximately 0 degrees). Which of the statements is a CORRECT reflection of their speed?
A)Both flags travel at the same speed because the Earth spins on its axis.
B)The flag at the pole travels at a faster speed than the flag at the equator, but it makes multiple revolutions in order to travel the same distance as the flag at the equator.
C)The flag at the equator travels faster than the flag at the pole because it will go further in one day (i.e., one turn on its axis).
D)None of the answer options is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The flag at the equator travels faster than the flag at the pole because it will travel the entire circumference of the Earth (approximately 40,000 kilometers) in one day due to the Earth's rotation. In contrast, the flag at the pole only travels a small distance (approximately 0.001 km) around the pole in one day. Although the flag at the pole rotates faster on its axis, it travels a much smaller distance overall.

Two People Place Flags Simultaneously on the Surface of the Earth