• Question: Why do I feel dizzy when I spin?

    Asked by laurenshep21 to Angus, Hannah, Simon on 28 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Simon Holyoake

      Simon Holyoake answered on 28 Jun 2013:


      inside your ear there are 3 parts called the semicircular canals, each is filled with fluid and act a bit like a spirit level, each canal is oriented on a different axis (one is forward, one sideways and one upwards) and as you move, the fluid moves around and tells your brain which direction your head and body are pointing in

      when you spin, you effectively slosh these fluids around and create movements inside them, when you stop spinning, the fluid continues to move, so your brain thinks you’re still moving and you feel dizzy

      one of the theories about why being dizzy can make you sick, is that dizziness is often a symptom of being poisoned, so your body vomits to flush any toxins out that may be poisoning you!

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