The Coriolis Effect

One air has been set in motion by the pressure gradient force, it undergoes an apparent deflection as viewed from an observer on Earth. This is known as the Coriolis force.

The Coriolis force is not a true force, but like the centripetal force it is an apparent force that is only observed because of the rotation of the reference frame.

In the northern hemisphere objects are always deflected to the right, and in the southern hemisphere objects are always deflected to the left. This affects everything from air parcels to airplanes.

Fcoriolis = -2mwVcos(latitude)

Where w = angular velocity of rotating reference frame

V = velocity of object

NEWTON’S LAWS THERMODYNAMICS FORCES IN THE ATMOSPHERE CORIOLIS FORCE STORMS THE DEMONSTRATION HOME

Ó 2004 by Marisa Demers