Rotation of the Earth as a triaxial rigid body

Abstract

The Earth is taken as a triaxial rigid body, which rotates freely in the Euclidian space. The starting equations are the Euler dynamic equations, with A smaller than B and B smaller than C. The Euler equations are solved, and the numerical results are provided. In the calculations, the following parameters are used: (C-B)/A=0.003 273 53; (B-A)/C=0.000 021 96; (C-A)/B=0.003 295 49, and the mean angular velocity of the Earth’s rotation, ω=0.000 072 921 15 rad/s. Calculations show that, besides the self-rotation of the Earth and the free Euler procession of its rotation, there exists the free nutation: the nutation angle, or the angle between the Earth’s momentary rotation axis and the mean axis that periodically change with time. The free nutation is investigated.

Keywords:

• Earth’s rotation
• triaxial rigid body problem
• variation of Eulerian angles

CLC number:

• P227.1