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

    Asked by mohamyus to PB, Paul, Lyn, Katy on 27 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by louismart.
    • Photo: Peter Balfe

      Peter Balfe answered on 27 Jun 2013:


      Your balance is controlled by the 3 semicircular canals of the inner ear, which are lined with fine hairs which detect the movement of the fluid in the canal tubes. When you turn your head the liquid moves, but if you spin long enough the liquid keeps moving after you stop; the hairs keep sensing it and tell your brain you’re still moving. The result – falling over and feeling dizzy.

    • Photo: Paul Waines

      Paul Waines answered on 27 Jun 2013:


      Hi mohamyus-

      you feel dizzy because you have liquid in the area of your ear behind the ear drum.

      This area has loads of really fine hairs which detect movement and so help you balance.

      if you spin around. then the liquid in your ears spins with you. Now, imagine you are swirling water around in a bucket- what happens when you stop swirling?

      That’s right- the water keeps going.

      So if thats happening in your ears, then the hairs (and the brain that they’re attached to ) are going to get very confused!!

      I’m feeling dizzy just thinking about it, I think I’d better lie down…

    • Photo: Ee Lyn Lim

      Ee Lyn Lim answered on 28 Jun 2013:


      Speaking about lying down – the same semicircular canals are the ones that tell you whether you are standing up or lying down! They are a bit like the accelerometers in your smartphone, that tilt the screen around when you hold it sideways, or turn off the ringing when you flip it over on the table. But the bit of electronic kit in your phone is much less sensitive than the sensors in your ear – if you spin your phone around it just freezes, but if you spin your body around your ear canals throw a bit of a fit!

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