1. What is the Coriolis Force?

The Coriolis force is an inertial or fictitious force that acts on objects moving within a frame of reference that rotates with respect to an inertial frame. It is perpendicular to the velocity vector of the object and to the rotation axis of the frame of reference.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Coriolis force equation:

Where:

• \( F_c \) — Coriolis force (N)
• \( m \) — Mass of the object (kg)
• \( \omega \) — Angular velocity vector (rad/s)
• \( v \) — Velocity vector of the object (m/s)
• \( \times \) — Cross product operation

Explanation: The negative sign indicates the force direction is opposite to the rotation direction. The cross product magnitude is calculated as |ω||v|sin(θ), where θ is the angle between the vectors.

3. Importance of Coriolis Force

Details: The Coriolis force is crucial in meteorology (affecting weather patterns), oceanography (influencing ocean currents), ballistics (affecting projectile trajectories), and engineering (rotating machinery design).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms, angular velocity in radians per second, velocity in meters per second, and the angle between vectors in degrees. All values must be positive, with angle between 0-180 degrees.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is Coriolis force a real force?
A: No, it's an inertial or fictitious force that appears in rotating reference frames due to the frame's acceleration.

Q2: Why is there a negative sign in the equation?
A: The negative sign indicates that the Coriolis force acts in the direction opposite to the rotation of the reference frame.

Q3: Where is Coriolis force most noticeable?
A: In large-scale systems like weather patterns, ocean currents, and long-range projectile motion where rotation effects accumulate over time and distance.

Q4: Does Coriolis force affect water draining in sinks?
A: For small-scale systems like sinks, the effect is negligible compared to other factors like basin shape and initial water motion.

Q5: How does Coriolis force affect aircraft navigation?
A: Aircraft flying long distances must account for Coriolis effects in their navigation systems to maintain accurate course tracking.