1. What is Coriolis Acceleration?

Coriolis acceleration is an apparent acceleration that acts on objects moving within a rotating reference frame. It is perpendicular to the velocity vector and depends on the angular velocity of the rotating system and the latitude of the object's position.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Coriolis acceleration formula:

Where:

• \( a_c \) — Coriolis acceleration (m/s²)
• \( \omega \) — Angular velocity (rad/s)
• \( v \) — Velocity of the moving object (m/s)
• \( \phi \) — Latitude in degrees (°)

Explanation: The Coriolis effect is maximum at the poles (φ = ±90°) where sin φ = ±1, and zero at the equator (φ = 0°) where sin φ = 0.

3. Importance of Coriolis Acceleration

Details: Coriolis acceleration is crucial in meteorology for understanding wind patterns, in oceanography for ocean currents, in ballistics for projectile motion, and in navigation systems. It explains why hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter angular velocity in radians per second, velocity in meters per second, and latitude in degrees (-90° to +90°). All values must be valid and within their respective ranges.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the physical significance of Coriolis acceleration?
A: It represents the apparent deflection of moving objects when viewed from a rotating reference frame, caused by the rotation of the coordinate system.

Q2: Why does Coriolis acceleration depend on latitude?
A: The component of the Earth's rotation that affects horizontal motion varies with latitude, being maximum at the poles and zero at the equator.

Q3: What are typical values of Coriolis acceleration on Earth?
A: For typical wind speeds (10 m/s) at mid-latitudes, Coriolis acceleration is approximately 0.0001 m/s², which is small but significant over large distances and time scales.

Q4: How does Coriolis acceleration affect weather systems?
A: It causes air masses to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, creating cyclonic and anticyclonic weather patterns.

Q5: Is Coriolis acceleration a real force?
A: No, it's an apparent or fictitious force that appears in rotating reference frames due to the inertia of moving objects in non-inertial frames.