Final answer:
The direction of rotation of a clockwise rotating turntable is simply clockwise. Changes in mass distribution or applying forces can affect angular velocity and acceleration, which are critical concepts in rotational dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'A horizontal turntable is rotating clockwise. What is the direction of rotation of the turntable?' by itself contains enough information to provide an answer. Since the turntable is described as rotating clockwise, the direction of rotation is clockwise. In the context of angular velocity and acceleration, the direction of rotation plays a crucial role in determining these vectors. If you add putty to the 3 o'clock position, the angular velocity will still be clockwise, but there will be a change in speed due to the added mass, which might affect the angular acceleration. The angular acceleration indicates how quickly the angular velocity is changing and its direction is aligned with the change of speed, not the rotation direction itself.
If you want to create an angular velocity in the opposite direction, or counterclockwise, you could add mass opposite to the direction of current rotation or apply a force that would initiate rotation in the counterclockwise direction. The conceptual understanding of these physics principles can be illustrated by considering various rotating systems described in the student's question, such as a second hand of a clock, a baseball bat, and the blades of a blender. The forces and their effects on angular velocity and momentum, when a Ferris wheel is loaded and begins to turn, can also be analyzed from these principles.