Question

Why are clockwise and counterclockwise referred to as “senses,” rather than directions?

Answer 1

Answer: Hello there!

Let's suppose that are directions

Suppose that the hour hand of the clock is on the 3, then the "direction" clockwise points down, and the direction "counterclockwise" points up.

Now if the hour hand is in the 12, the clockwise "direction" points to the right, and the counterclockwise points left.

Then you can see that the direction changes depending on where are we looking, this is the reason for them to be called "senses", because in this way you don't need to, for example, use the position of the object which movement is being described.

Answer 2

Clockwise and counter-clockwise is considered as a sense rather than a direction because it is only a view point where its movement of direction is always changing. Moreover, it is assumed as a tangential velocity of different points on the same body that is spinning in all directions and do not describe the motion of an object. The term can only be applied to object-observer system and not particularly for a direction.