What is the Coriolis Force on a Basketball Thrown on a Merry-Go-Round?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the Coriolis force observed on a 600-gram basketball thrown with a horizontal speed of 5m/s on a 6m diameter merry-go-round turning at 10 revolutions per minute. The equation used to calculate the Coriolis force is F(cor) = -2mw x v1, where w is the angular velocity and v1 is the velocity of the noninertial (i.e. rotating) reference frame. The force is calculated to be -6.29N, but there is confusion about how to find the displacement caused by the Coriolis force.
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Homework Statement


Consider children playing on a merry-go-round that is 6m in diameter, turning at 10 revolutions per minute. What will be the Coriolis force observed on a 600-gram basketball thrown with a horizontal speed of 5m/s? It is thrown between two children on opposite ends of a diameter. By how much does it miss its mark due to this Coriolis force?


Homework Equations



F(cor) = -2mw x v1

w is the angular velocity and v1 is the velocity of the noninertial (i think)

The Attempt at a Solution



I first changed w to rad/sec then plugged in everything. Is this how to find the coriolis force? what about the displacement?
 
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I'm a bit confused. F(cor) = -2(0.524)(600g)(5m/s) = -6.29NI'm not sure how to find the displacement.
 

FAQ: What is the Coriolis Force on a Basketball Thrown on a Merry-Go-Round?

What is "Basketball on a merry-go-round"?

"Basketball on a merry-go-round" is a popular physics thought experiment that involves a basketball being thrown from the center of a rotating merry-go-round. It is used to illustrate the principles of projectile motion and centripetal force.

How does the basketball behave on a merry-go-round?

The basketball follows a curved path known as a parabola when thrown from the center of a rotating merry-go-round. This is due to the combination of its forward motion and the downward pull of gravity.

What is the significance of this thought experiment?

"Basketball on a merry-go-round" is often used to demonstrate how an object's motion can be affected by both its initial velocity and external forces, such as gravity and centripetal force. It also highlights the relationship between linear and circular motion.

How does the speed of the merry-go-round affect the basketball's trajectory?

The speed of the merry-go-round affects the amount of centripetal force acting on the basketball. As the speed increases, so does the centripetal force, causing the basketball's path to become more curved.

Is "Basketball on a merry-go-round" a realistic scenario?

While it may seem like a hypothetical scenario, "Basketball on a merry-go-round" can be observed in real-life situations, such as throwing a frisbee or playing catch on a spinning playground roundabout. It can also be applied to other situations involving rotating objects and projectile motion.

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