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Coriolis Acceleration Formula:
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Coriolis acceleration is an apparent force that acts on objects moving within a rotating reference frame, such as the Earth. It causes moving objects to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
The calculator uses the Coriolis acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: The Coriolis effect is maximum at the poles (where sinφ = ±1) and zero at the equator (where sinφ = 0). The effect increases with the speed of the moving object.
Details: Coriolis acceleration is crucial in meteorology for understanding wind patterns, in oceanography for ocean currents, in ballistics for long-range projectile trajectories, and in aviation for flight path corrections.
Tips: Enter Earth's angular velocity in rad/s (standard value: 7.2921150 × 10⁻⁵), velocity in m/s, and latitude in degrees (-90° to +90°). All values must be valid and within their respective ranges.
Q1: Why is Coriolis acceleration important in weather systems?
A: It causes air masses to rotate, forming cyclones and anticyclones, and influences global wind patterns like trade winds and jet streams.
Q2: Does Coriolis effect work the same way in both hemispheres?
A: No, it deflects objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to the direction of Earth's rotation.
Q3: At what scale does Coriolis effect become significant?
A: It becomes significant for large-scale motions (hundreds of kilometers or more) and long time periods. It's negligible for small-scale, short-duration motions.
Q4: How does latitude affect Coriolis acceleration?
A: Coriolis acceleration is strongest at the poles and decreases to zero at the equator, following the sine of the latitude.
Q5: Is Coriolis acceleration a real force?
A: No, it's an apparent or inertial force that arises from observing motion in a rotating reference frame rather than an inertial frame.