1. What is Coriolis Inertia?

Coriolis inertia, or Coriolis force, is an inertial force that acts on objects moving within a rotating frame of reference. It's perpendicular to both the velocity of the object and the rotation axis of the frame.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Coriolis force equation:

Where:

• \( F \) — Coriolis force (N)
• \( m \) — Mass of the object (kg)
• \( a_{cor} \) — Coriolis acceleration (m/s²)

Explanation: The Coriolis force is proportional to both the mass of the moving object and its acceleration within the rotating frame.

3. Importance of Coriolis Force

Details: The Coriolis effect is crucial in meteorology (weather patterns), oceanography, ballistics, and engineering of rotating systems like turbines and gyroscopes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and Coriolis acceleration in meters per second squared. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Where is Coriolis force most noticeable?
A: On large-scale systems like weather patterns and ocean currents where the Earth's rotation is significant.

Q2: Does Coriolis force affect small-scale systems?
A: Generally no - its effect is negligible for small systems like draining bathtubs where other forces dominate.

Q3: How is Coriolis acceleration calculated?
A: \( a_{cor} = 2v \times \omega \), where v is velocity and ω is angular velocity of the rotating frame.

Q4: Is Coriolis force a real force?
A: It's an apparent force that appears in rotating reference frames, necessary to explain motion according to Newton's laws.

Q5: What's the difference between Coriolis and centrifugal force?
A: Centrifugal force acts outward from the rotation axis, while Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the motion direction.