Coriolis Effect Calculator
Calculate Coriolis force and acceleration due to Earth's rotation for moving objects
Calculate Coriolis Effect
Mass of the moving object
Speed of the moving object
Geographic latitude (-90° to 90°)
Determines deflection direction
Default: 0.0000727 rad/s (Earth's rotation). Change for other rotating bodies.
Coriolis Effect Results
Deflection Direction: No deflection (at equator)
Physics Parameters:Mass: 0.0 kg, Velocity: 0.0 m/s, Latitude: 0° northern
Formula: F = 2mvωsin(α), where ω = 0.0000727 rad/s, sin(0°) = 0.0000
Coriolis Effect Analysis
Example Calculation
Commercial Aircraft Example
Scenario: Aircraft flying from London to North America
Given:
• Mass: 50,000 kg
• Velocity: 500 km/h = 138.9 m/s
• Latitude: 51.5° N (London)
• Earth's ω: 0.0000727 rad/s
Calculation Results
Coriolis Force: F = 2 × 50,000 × 138.9 × 0.0000727 × sin(51.5°) ≈ 800 N
Coriolis Acceleration: a = 800/50,000 = 0.016 m/s²
Percentage of gravity: 0.016/9.81 × 100% ≈ 0.16%
Banking angle needed: atan(0.016/9.81) ≈ 0.094°
Result: Aircraft deflects northward (right in Northern Hemisphere)
Coriolis Effect Overview
Earth's Rotation
Causes apparent deflection of moving objects
Deflection Direction
Right in NH, left in SH
Latitude Dependence
Maximum at poles, zero at equator
Key Formulas
Coriolis Force
F = 2mvωsin(α)
Coriolis Acceleration
a = 2vωsin(α)
Earth's Angular Velocity
ω = 2π/24h ≈ 0.0000727 rad/s
Banking Angle
θ = atan(a/g)
Real-World Applications
Aircraft navigation and autopilot systems
Missile trajectory calculations
Weather pattern formation
Ocean current circulation
Satellite orbit calculations
Understanding the Coriolis Effect
What is the Coriolis Effect?
The Coriolis effect is an apparent deflection of moving objects when viewed from a rotating reference frame, such as Earth. This inertial force results from Earth's rotation and affects the trajectory of objects moving across the planet's surface.
Physical Mechanism
- •Rotation Effect: Earth rotates faster at the equator than at the poles
- •Apparent Force: Objects appear to curve due to the rotating reference frame
- •Latitude Dependence: Effect varies with sin(latitude)
Mathematical Foundation
Coriolis Force Formula:
F = 2mvωsin(α)
a = F/m = 2vωsin(α)
Parameters
- m: Mass of the object (kg)
- v: Velocity of the object (m/s)
- ω: Angular velocity of Earth (0.0000727 rad/s)
- α: Latitude angle (degrees)
- sin(α): Determines effect strength
Deflection Patterns
Northern Hemisphere
Moving objects deflect to the right (clockwise)
Southern Hemisphere
Moving objects deflect to the left (counterclockwise)
Equator
No Coriolis effect (sin(0°) = 0)
Practical Implications
- ✈️Commercial aviation requires course corrections
- 🎯Long-range artillery must account for deflection
- 🌀Weather systems rotate due to Coriolis force
- 🌊Ocean currents follow Coriolis-influenced patterns