Let's answer one of the age old question. Do Australian toilets flush in the opposite direction then they do in America? This has been puzzling mankind since Thomas Crapper help develop the flush toilet. This question was also explored on the Simpsons 16th episode of the six season, Bart vs. Australia.
The toilet flush spinning the opposite way has perpetuated a popular myth that the Coriolis effect affects the motion of drains in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres In reality, the Coriolis effect (caused by the spinning of the globe on its axis) affects global weather patterns. The amount of water in a toilet or sink is much too small to be affected by it.
So you all learned a little something today, I hope. In the future we will be exploring if it is possible to throw a boomerang away.
5 comments:
Actually I believe a toilet in Australia flushes in the same direction everywhere - down. (Well perhaps not on the Space Shuttle or the International Space Station)
Did you know the space station’s toilet was broken and the last space shuttle delivered parts to repair it?
NASA paid one heck of a shipping bill but even they could not afford the cost of a real plumber! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7436975.stm
I wonder if they went to Lowe's for the replacement parts.
The Simpsons are generally pretty funny, but that episode Bart v Australia was ordinary. Or should I say, ruined by how little the writers seem to know about Australia.
I'd guess Yanks are more familiar with cliches about Australia, and so that was why it was written as it was.
As for the flushing issue, I've never noticed or cared.
But for all the millions of Willies World readers in America, I can confirm water flushes straight down in Australia, it flushes neither clockwise nor counter clockwise.
There you have it straight from the horses mouth. Mr Snootles has confirmed that the water does not swirl to the left or to the right but just straight down. Well done Snootles
On the topic of the boomerang, I am reminded of a Blackadder episode (anyone seen that?).
Anyway, Blackadder presents a boomerang to the Queen and says: "This is a special stick, for when you throw it away, it COMES back!". Queenie says: "Well that's no good is it? Because when I throw something away I DON'T WANT IT TO COME BACK!"
Haven't thrown a boomerang since I was a kid, but you CAN make them come back if you know how. It's probably easier to throw it away though...
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