1. What is the Coriolis Effect?

The Coriolis effect is an apparent force that acts on objects moving in a rotating reference frame, like Earth. It causes moving objects to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Coriolis force equation:

Where:

• \( F_c \) — Coriolis force (N)
• \( m \) — Mass of the object (kg)
• \( \omega \) — Angular velocity of Earth (7.29×10^-5 rad/s)
• \( v \) — Velocity of the object (m/s)
• \( \phi \) — Latitude angle (degrees)

Explanation: The equation shows how the Coriolis force depends on the mass, velocity, and latitude of the moving object, as well as Earth's rotation.

3. Importance of Coriolis Force

Details: The Coriolis effect influences weather patterns, ocean currents, and even the path of long-range projectiles. It's why hurricanes rotate differently in each hemisphere.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms, velocity in meters per second, angular velocity in radians per second (use 0.0000729 for Earth), and latitude in degrees. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the Coriolis force important?
A: It affects large-scale movements like winds and ocean currents, helping create weather patterns and climate zones.

Q2: Does the Coriolis effect work on small scales?
A: No, it's only noticeable for large-scale or long-duration movements like weather systems or long-range artillery.

Q3: Why does the direction change between hemispheres?
A: Because Earth's rotation makes the deflection direction depend on which hemisphere you're in.

Q4: What's a typical value for Earth's angular velocity?
A: Earth rotates at about 7.29×10^-5 radians per second (ω in the equation).

Q5: Why is latitude important in the equation?
A: The effect is strongest at the poles (where sin 90° = 1) and zero at the equator (where sin 0° = 0).