Does anyone wish to discuss the Coriolis effect/force?
Mike
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/crls.rxml
The thing I find teasing about the coriolis effect is that the faster the wind or an object is travelling the greater the deflection.
Take the N Hemisphere, the deflection is to the right. As the wind speed increases the wind veers. Deflects more!
Any other object with a force acting on it for example a golf ball hit into a cross wind would be effected less if its flight was faster.
I know there is a formula for calculating the coriolis force for different latitudes and different speeds but I would be more interested in a general explanation as to why this can be.
I have concocted a theory of my own and wonder if anyone else agrees with my reasoning.
Tiger Woods hits a golf ball from the N pole at a spot on the equator, it is a reasonable shot and averages 5400 Kn. It lands 1 hour later.
John Daly hits another golf ball from the N pole at the same spot on the equator, he gives it an almighty hit and it averages 54000 Kn. It lands 6 minutes later.
Now looking at the flights of both balls from the N pole you will see John Dalys ball has suffered a greater deflection to the right than Tigers.
The ball with the faster flight has been deflected more to the right.
Funny that.
Mike.
Now looking at the flights of both balls from the N pole you will see John Dalys ball has suffered a greater deflection to the right than Tigers.
The ball with the faster flight has been deflected more to the right.>>
Correct. And when you examine the second order differential equations in spherical coordinates, you will see why. Wait till you master the math.
The Coriolis effect or force is an apparent deflection of the path of an object moving in a rotating system (such as the Earth) due to the rotation itself. This effect is observed in both the atmosphere and the ocean, and it plays a significant role in weather patterns and ocean currents.
To understand why the faster the wind or an object is traveling, the greater the deflection due to the Coriolis effect, we need to consider the conservation of angular momentum. As the object moves faster, it covers a larger distance in a shorter period of time. This means that the object needs to "catch up" with the rotating Earth, which results in a larger deflection to the right (in the Northern Hemisphere).
You mentioned a theory involving golf balls hit by Tiger Woods and John Daly from the North Pole to the equator. It is important to note that the Coriolis effect is primarily applicable to large-scale objects like air masses or ocean currents, rather than individual golf balls. However, if we were to consider these hypothetical shots, the ball with the faster flight (John Daly's) would indeed experience a greater deflection to the right due to its higher velocity.
To calculate the Coriolis force for different latitudes and speeds, you can use the Coriolis force formula:
F_c = 2 * m * v * Ω * sin(θ)
where:
- F_c is the magnitude of the Coriolis force
- m is the mass of the object
- v is the velocity of the object
- Ω is the angular velocity of the Earth
- θ is the latitude
However, keep in mind that this formula applies to large-scale systems like atmospheric or oceanic circulation. It may not accurately represent the deflection experienced by individual objects like golf balls.
In conclusion, the Coriolis effect causes objects in a rotating system to experience a deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere (and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere). The greater the speed of the object, the larger the deflection due to the need to "catch up" with the rotating reference frame. While the Coriolis effect can be calculated using formulas, it is important to note its applicability to different scales and systems.