Taps, radios, and that

[Captain Spod]

When you turn on a radio with a rotary on/off/volume switch you turn it clockwise. When you want to increase the ..VOLUME.. (gettit?) of water from a tap you turn it anticlockwise. I know it's trivial and probably not worth your time, but why is it opposite?

Any answers beginning -Captain Spod.. get a life - will be ignored.

[Ethel]

My taps turn clockwise to turn them on or increase the water flow, anticlockwise to shut them off.

[rov1200]

Regarding the radio if you turn a knob clockwise and are right-handed you have more control for very small increments of volume. Strange but true!

[wildwood]

Come on Ethel. Tell us more. There has to be a reason why your taps (faucets) work the other way!
Observing the way the taps turn when you're laying on your back in the bath doesn't count.

[vascop]

I must have something to do with the fact that clockwise is the normal direction for tightening a screw. So the tap goes down when you turn it anticlockwise and closes the gap. I agree it could still be arranged mechanically to work the other way, but it would make taps more complicated and special fittings would have to be made.. Same thing for the stop tap for your house.
Also of course, the most important thing is to shut the tap off - so make it clockwise.
In the end it's all down to convention and what we are used to. Everything could just as easily be the other way round. In my local pub there's a clock that goes the other way -it's called "Old Peculiar Time" after the strong beer made by Theakstons.
There are screw threads that go the other way. In my convector oven there is a fan which is turned anticlockwise by the motor. The nut which holds it in place and the thread on the rod (axle) are the opposite to the norm so that the motion of the fan tends to tighten the screw rather than loosen it.

[vascop]

Sorry that first "anticlockwise" should be "clockwise".

[heathfield]

The present-day safety rule that applies to taps, or any other kind of valve for controlling the flow of a liquid or gas, is ''clockwise for off''.
Unfortunately, there are still new and old fittings around that weren't made using this rule.

[Rev. Green]

I don't find taps as annoying as computer keyboards: why have 789 where 123 are on telephones, and vice versa?

[Scarramouch]

Ethel, either the clocks in your house run backwards which would create a whole new physics thread or you need a plumber! No seriously its just the difference between left and right hand threads and is largely cosmetic.