Coriolis Effect: Man Walking Football Field, Right?

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In summary, the Coriolis Effect is a phenomenon caused by the Earth's rotation that results in the apparent deflection of objects moving in a straight path relative to the Earth's surface. It affects a person walking on a football field by causing them to veer slightly to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This effect is only noticeable on large-scale objects due to the small force of the Earth's rotation compared to gravity. The Coriolis Effect only affects objects moving in a straight path and can be observed in various natural phenomena such as ocean currents, weather patterns, and the rotation of hurricanes.
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Granville
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What effect would the Corroilis force have on a man walking in a football field? Would he veer to the right? Thanks.
 
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  • #2
Coriolis will make you veer toward the equator depending on which way you're walking.

It is orthogonal to both the rotation of the earth, and your direction of travel.
 
  • #3
This looks like homework. What do you think would happen?
 
  • #4
K.J.Healey said:
Coriolis will make you veer toward the equator depending on which way you're walking.

It is orthogonal to both the rotation of the earth, and your direction of travel.

Thanks for the help!
 

FAQ: Coriolis Effect: Man Walking Football Field, Right?

What is the Coriolis Effect?

The Coriolis Effect is a phenomenon that describes the apparent deflection of objects moving in a straight path relative to the Earth's surface. It is caused by the Earth's rotation and the differences in the speed of objects at different latitudes.

How does the Coriolis Effect affect a person walking on a football field?

If a person walks in a straight line on a football field, the Coriolis Effect would cause them to veer slightly to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This is because the Earth's rotation causes the ground to move faster near the equator and slower near the poles, creating a difference in speed between the person and the ground.

Why does the Coriolis Effect only affect large-scale objects like football fields?

The Coriolis Effect is only noticeable on large-scale objects because the force of the Earth's rotation is very small compared to the force of gravity. Therefore, the effect is only significant on objects that are moving over long distances, such as a person walking on a football field.

Does the Coriolis Effect affect the direction of all moving objects?

No, the Coriolis Effect only affects objects that are moving in a straight path relative to the Earth's surface. Objects that are moving along a curved path, such as a spinning top or a thrown ball, are not affected by the Coriolis Effect.

Can the Coriolis Effect be observed in other phenomena besides a person walking on a football field?

Yes, the Coriolis Effect can be observed in many other natural phenomena, such as ocean currents, weather patterns, and the rotation of hurricanes. It also plays a role in the rotation of the Earth's winds and the formation of trade winds and jet streams.

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