Coriolis force

[Fu-Kwun Hwang]

The Coriolis force is a fictitious force exerted on a body when it moves in a rotating reference frame. It is called a fictitious force because it is a by-product of measuring coordinates with respect to a rotating coordinate system as opposed to an actual "push or pull."

This applet simulate particles motions observed from an inertia frame and rotating frame.
The spherical body will rotate when you press "play" button.
The red arrows are velocity vectors at different points on the spherical surface.
Press "jump" to shoot out particles.
You can use mouse to change the 3D view.

Embed a running copy of this simulation
<applet code='users.ntnu.fkh.coriolis_pkg.coriolisApplet.class' archive='http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/ejsuser/2/ejs_coriolis.jar' name='coriolis837' id='coriolis837' width='780' height='520' mayscript=true><param name='draggable' value='true'></applet>
Embed a running copy link(show simulation in a popuped window)
<a href='http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/msg.php?smfejs=837' target='smfejs'>Run simulation</a>

Full screen applet or Problem viewing java?Add http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ to exception site list
Press the Alt key and the left mouse button to drag the applet off the browser and onto the desktop. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Taiwan License

• Please feel free to post your ideas about how to use the simulation for better teaching and learning.
• Post questions to be asked to help students to think, to explore.
• Upload worksheets as attached files to share with more users.

Let's work together. We can help more users understand physics conceptually and enjoy the fun of learning physics!

[lookang]

what does the blue lines represent?
Is it the straight line joining the projected shadow of the projectile on the surface of the sphere to the point of collision on the rotating sphere?

what does the black lines represent?
Is it the trajectory of the projectile to the point of collision on the rotating sphere?

Is there a YouTube to understand this Coriolis effect in the context of the applet, which is about the Earth or a rotating ball?

[Fu-Kwun Hwang]

In the above simulation, there are six projectiles distributed uniformally.
Those 6 circles represent the initial positions (move with the earth) for those six projectiles.
Blue arrows shows the final displacement (you need to check displacement to see those blue arrows).
Two sets of six black traces are trajectories viewed from inertial/non-inertial frames.