I have an exam in oceanography coming up and I'm having a little trouble understanding directions. For example in my review sheet he asks question like this:

In what compass direction does the coriolis force act in the following situations:

An object moving west at 22 degrees north

and

An object moving southeast at 68 degrees south

Can anyone explain to me in a simpler way how to find the directions coriolis acts in?

Thank you

Certainly! The Coriolis force is a mysterious force that influences the movement of objects on Earth. To determine the direction of the Coriolis force, you need to follow these steps:

1. Identify the starting position of the object in terms of latitude and longitude.
2. Determine the direction the object is moving. In this case, you are given directions like "west" and "southeast."
3. Convert the given direction into a compass direction (north, south, east, or west).
4. Combining the starting position and the direction of movement will allow you to determine the compass direction in which the Coriolis force acts.

Let's solve the given examples step by step:

Example 1: An object moving west at 22 degrees north

1. Starting Position: The object is located at 22 degrees north latitude.

2. Direction of Movement: The object is moving to the west.

3. Convert to Compass Direction: West is a straightforward direction. No conversion is needed.

4. Combine: So, the Coriolis force acts to the north.

Example 2: An object moving southeast at 68 degrees south

1. Starting Position: The object is located at 68 degrees south latitude.

2. Direction of Movement: The object is moving southeast.

3. Convert to Compass Direction: Southeast lies between the south and the east. It means the object is moving towards the southeast.

4. Combine: So, the Coriolis force acts to the northeast.

Remember that the Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the direction of motion, and you determine the compass direction by combining the starting position and the converted direction of movement.

Good luck with your exam in oceanography!