The Action of the Coriolis Force

Storyboard

Whenever an object moves in a straight line at a constant speed from a rotating frame of reference (such as the surface of the Earth), it appears to undergo a curved motion. This phenomenon can be modeled by introducing a fictitious force known as the Coriolis force. This force helps us understand various movements observed in the oceans and atmosphere.

>Model

ID:(1521, 0)



The Action of the Coriolis Force

Storyboard

Whenever an object moves in a straight line at a constant speed from a rotating frame of reference (such as the surface of the Earth), it appears to undergo a curved motion. This phenomenon can be modeled by introducing a fictitious force known as the Coriolis force. This force helps us understand various movements observed in the oceans and atmosphere.

Variables

Symbol
Text
Variable
Value
Units
Calculate
MKS Value
MKS Units
$\vec{\omega}$
&omega
Angular Speed
rad/s
$\omega$
omega
Angular velocity of the planet
rad/s
$\vec{v}$
&v
Body speed
m/s
$\vec{a}_c$
&a_c
Coriolis acceleration
m/s^2
$a_{c,x}$
a_cx
Coriolis acceleration in x direction
m/s^2
$a_{c,y}$
a_cy
Coriolis acceleration in y direction
m/s^2
$a_{c,z}$
a_cz
Coriolis acceleration in z direction
m/s^2
$a_{c,x}$
a_cx
Coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the x direction
m/s^2
$a_{c,y}$
a_cy
Coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the y direction
m/s^2
$a_{c,z}$
a_cz
Coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the z direction
m/s^2
$f$
f
Coriolis factor
rad/s
$\varphi$
phi
Latitude
rad
$v_x$
v_x
Parallel speed
m/s
$e$
e
Second Coriolis factor
rad/s
$v_y$
v_y
Speed in meridian
m/s
$v_x$
v_x
Speed x of the object
m/s
$v_y$
v_y
Speed y of the object
m/s
$v_z$
v_z
Speed z of the object
m/s

Calculations


First, select the equation:   to ,  then, select the variable:   to 

Symbol
Equation
Solved
Translated

Calculations

Symbol
Equation
Solved
Translated

 Variable   Given   Calculate   Target :   Equation   To be used



Equations

On the Earth's surface, its axis points northward with an angle equal to the latitude ($\varphi$) relative to the plane. Thus, the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) equals:

$\vec{\omega}=(0,\omega\cos\varphi,\omega\sin\varphi)$



And since the body speed ($\vec{v}$) is:

$\vec{v}=(v_x,v_y,v_z)$



the definition of the coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$):

equation=11693

yields the x-component equal to:

equation

On the Earth's surface, its axis points northward with an angle equal to the latitude ($\varphi$) relative to the plane. Thus, the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) equals:

$\vec{\omega}=(0,\omega\cos\varphi,\omega\sin\varphi)$



And since the body speed ($\vec{v}$) is:

$\vec{v}=(v_x,v_y,v_z)$



the definition of the coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$):

equation=11693

yields the y-component equal to:

equation

On the Earth's surface, its axis points northward with an angle equal to the latitude ($\varphi$) relative to the plane. Thus, the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) equals:

$\vec{\omega}=(0,\omega\cos\varphi,\omega\sin\varphi)$



And since the body speed ($\vec{v}$) is:

$\vec{v}=(v_x,v_y,v_z)$



the definition of the coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$):

equation=11693

yields the z-component equal to:

equation

As the coriolis acceleration in x direction ($a_{c,x}$) is composed of the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$), the latitude ($\varphi$), the speed y of the object ($v_y$), and the speed z of the object ($v_z$):

equation=11694

and the definition of the coriolis factor ($f$) is:

equation=11697

in addition to the constraint of movement on the surface where:

$v_z = 0$



this leads to the coriolis acceleration in x direction ($a_{c,x}$) being:

equation

Since the coriolis acceleration in y direction ($a_{c,y}$) is composed of the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$), the speed x of the object ($v_x$), and the latitude ($\varphi$):

equation=11695

and the definition of the coriolis factor ($f$) is:

equation=11697

in addition to the constraint of movement on the surface where:

$v_z = 0$



this leads to the coriolis acceleration in y direction ($a_{c,y}$) being:

equation

Since the coriolis acceleration in y direction ($a_{c,y}$) is composed of the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$), the speed x of the object ($v_x$), and the latitude ($\varphi$):

equation=11695

and the definition of the second Coriolis factor ($e$) is:

equation=15450

in addition to the constraint of movement on the surface where:

$v_z = 0$



this leads to the coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the z direction ($a_{c,z}$) being:

equation


Examples


mechanisms

In the video, we observe how an object appears to follow a curved path when observed from a rotating system. However, from a non-rotating reference frame, its motion appears to be straight and at a constant velocity.

video

To describe the motion of an object moving rectilinearly in a rotating system, a fictitious force called the Coriolis force is introduced. This force accounts for the observed motion and is essential for understanding various phenomena observed in rotating systems, such as ocean currents and atmospheric circulation patterns.

A local reference system is established where:

• the z-axis points upwards
• the y-axis points northward
• the x-axis points eastward

Thus, the angular velocity vector of the planet lies in the yz plane at an angle equal to the latitude of the location:

image

The effect of apparent deviation can be observed particularly on the surface of the Earth. If an object is launched from the equator and travels to higher latitudes, it appears to "advance" due to the fact that at higher latitudes, the tangential velocity is lower than at the equator.

image

If an object is launched from a location far from the equator towards the east, it will be observed that the body deviates, falling behind, due to its lower tangential velocity compared to latitudes closer to the equator.

image

If the flowing medium moves from a point, such as high-pressure air, the flows are delayed or advanced depending on whether they are directed towards the equator or the pole. This leads to the formation of a system that rotates counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, forming what is known as a cyclone.

image

If the medium in motion flows towards a point (for example, in the air, from a low-pressure area), the flows are either advanced or delayed depending on whether they come from the equator or the pole. This leads to the formation of a system that rotates in the positive direction (in the northern hemisphere), resulting in what is known as an anticyclone.

image

If we only observe what happens in the plane, we will see that whenever we move in a particular direction, we experience a perpendicular acceleration in the positive direction. The magnitude of this acceleration increases with latitude and is zero at the equator. Outside of that, it is proportional to the angular velocity, meaning that if the reference system did not rotate, there would be no Coriolis effect.

image


model

The Coriolis acceleration explains how an object deviates from its path due to the rotation of the reference system.

It's important to understand that the 'force,' 'acceleration,' or 'effect' of Coriolis is a mathematical 'trick' to calculate how a body behaves when viewed from a rotating system. The equation that best models this effect is the coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$) with the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) and the body speed ($\vec{v}$):

kyon

The coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$) is with the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) and the body speed ($\vec{v}$):

equation=11693

So, with the coriolis acceleration in x direction ($a_{c,x}$) alongside the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$), the speed y of the object ($v_y$), the speed z of the object ($v_z$), and the latitude ($\varphi$), the x-component is.

kyon

The coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$) is related to the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) and the body speed ($\vec{v}$):

equation=11693

So, with the coriolis acceleration in y direction ($a_{c,y}$) alongside the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$), the speed x of the object ($v_x$), and the latitude ($\varphi$), the y-component is:

kyon

The coriolis acceleration ($\vec{a}_c$) is related to the angular Speed ($\vec{\omega}$) and the body speed ($\vec{v}$):

equation=11693

So, with the coriolis acceleration in z direction ($a_{c,z}$) alongside the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$), the speed x of the object ($v_x$), and the latitude ($\varphi$), the y-component is:

kyon

To simplify the equations, we work with ERROR:8600.1, which is a constant for the physical location, as it includes the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$) for the Earth and the latitude ($\varphi$) for the location:

kyon

In the southern hemisphere, the latitude is negative, and with it, 8600, explaining why systems rotate in the opposite direction to the northern hemisphere.

To simplify the equations, we work with ERROR:10273.1, which is a constant for the physical location, as it includes the angular velocity of the planet ($\omega$) for the Earth and the latitude ($\varphi$) for the location:

kyon


As the coriolis acceleration in x direction ($a_{c,x}$) can be rewritten with the coriolis factor ($f$) and under the condition that there is no vertical movement:

$v_z = 0$



Therefore, it follows that the coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the x direction ($a_{c,x}$) is:

kyon

Since the coriolis acceleration in x direction ($a_{c,x}$) can be rewritten with the coriolis factor ($f$) under the condition that there is no vertical movement:

$v_z = 0$



Then, it follows that the coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the y direction ($a_{c,y}$) is:

kyon

Since the coriolis acceleration in z direction ($a_{c,z}$) can be rewritten with the second Coriolis factor ($e$) under the condition that there is no vertical movement:

$v_z = 0$



Then, it follows that the coriolis acceleration on the surface, in the z direction ($a_{c,z}$) is:

kyon


>Model

ID:(1521, 0)



Mechanisms

Definition


ID:(15447, 0)



Rotating system problem

Image

In the video, we observe how an object appears to follow a curved path when observed from a rotating system. However, from a non-rotating reference frame, its motion appears to be straight and at a constant velocity.

To describe the motion of an object moving rectilinearly in a rotating system, a fictitious force called the Coriolis force is introduced. This force accounts for the observed motion and is essential for understanding various phenomena observed in rotating systems, such as ocean currents and atmospheric circulation patterns.

ID:(11671, 0)



Local referral system

Note

A local reference system is established where:

• the z-axis points upwards
• the y-axis points northward
• the x-axis points eastward

Thus, the angular velocity vector of the planet lies in the yz plane at an angle equal to the latitude of the location:

ID:(11672, 0)



The effect of the apparent deviation can be observed

Quote

The effect of apparent deviation can be observed particularly on the surface of the Earth. If an object is launched from the equator and travels to higher latitudes, it appears to "advance" due to the fact that at higher latitudes, the tangential velocity is lower than at the equator.

ID:(11673, 0)



Object thrown towards the equator

Exercise

If an object is launched from a location far from the equator towards the east, it will be observed that the body deviates, falling behind, due to its lower tangential velocity compared to latitudes closer to the equator.

ID:(11674, 0)



Cyclone formation

Equation

If the flowing medium moves from a point, such as high-pressure air, the flows are delayed or advanced depending on whether they are directed towards the equator or the pole. This leads to the formation of a system that rotates counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, forming what is known as a cyclone.

ID:(11669, 0)



Formation of an anticyclone

Script

If the medium in motion flows towards a point (for example, in the air, from a low-pressure area), the flows are either advanced or delayed depending on whether they come from the equator or the pole. This leads to the formation of a system that rotates in the positive direction (in the northern hemisphere), resulting in what is known as an anticyclone.

ID:(11675, 0)



Coriolis law argument

Variable

If we only observe what happens in the plane, we will see that whenever we move in a particular direction, we experience a perpendicular acceleration in the positive direction. The magnitude of this acceleration increases with latitude and is zero at the equator. Outside of that, it is proportional to the angular velocity, meaning that if the reference system did not rotate, there would be no Coriolis effect.

ID:(11692, 0)



Model

Audio


ID:(15436, 0)