In "A Short History of Nearly Everything," Bill Bryson explains an intriguing phenomenon concerning the Pacific Ocean. He notes that due to Earth's rotation, the ocean's western edge is elevated by approximately a foot and a half. This elevation is a result of the centrifugal force generated from the planet's spin, which affects how ocean water is distributed.

Bryson compares this effect to water in a tub, where pulling one end causes the water to resist and accumulate at the opposite end. Similarly, the eastward rotation of the Earth leads to a buildup of water along the western margins of the Pacific Ocean, illustrating the fascinating interplay between physics and the natural world.