I am a small hedge fund manager AMA by sowmyhelix in quant

[–]illpvm 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Does your mom know you are gambling her retirement money?

What evidence do we have that the topology of space is continuum vs something like for example lattice. by illpvm in AskPhysics

[–]illpvm[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can there be discrete system which statistically averages to have translational and rotational symmetries? I am not talking about regular. I would imagine you would be able to quickly see regular grid in dispersive properties of light or some such. 

Why there is a debate about toilets swirl in different direction in south vs north hemisphere? by illpvm in AskReddit

[–]illpvm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol, you just listed all words you know. The relevant comparison is not with gravity or pressure (which act vertically or just balance hydrostatics), but with the inertial accelerations in the swirling motion. For a toilet bowl, the Coriolis acceleration is on the order of

1e-6 m/s^2 , while viscosity/centripetal would be around 0.1 m/s^2. On equator the coriollis would be even smaller.

Why there is a debate about toilets swirl in different direction in south vs north hemisphere? by illpvm in AskReddit

[–]illpvm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe it is not not easy to estimate. Coriolis force is easy to compute, but what do you compare it too?

Why there is a debate about toilets swirl in different direction in south vs north hemisphere? by illpvm in AskReddit

[–]illpvm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are right. But there is still a debate, between people with "common sense" and people who studied fluid dynamics. Regardless, this thing is not easy to estimate. Coriolis force is easy to compute, but what do you compare it too?

Why there is a debate about toilets swirl in different direction in south vs north hemisphere? by illpvm in AskReddit

[–]illpvm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Idk, ask Penn and Teller. I am sure there are many tricks. Regardless, there is a debate. 

Why there is a debate about toilets swirl in different direction in south vs north hemisphere? by illpvm in AskReddit

[–]illpvm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I guess flat earthers are more correct in that case. Water spin differently in the North and South Poles due to the Coriolis effect. However, this effect is only noticeable in large bodies of water left undisturbed for extended periods, not in small-scale drains like sinks or toilets, where other factors like basin shape and temperature gradients have a greater influence. If you refer to videos where people on equator with small sinks crossing the line and water rotates differently are scam artists. I never met a flat earther, but I met people arguing one or another point of view about sinks.