Coriolis Effect Calculator

What Is the Coriolis Effect?

The Coriolis effect deflects moving objects on a rotating planet. Earth's rotation creates an apparent force perpendicular to the direction of motion, influencing weather patterns, ocean currents, and long-range projectile paths.

Coriolis Force Formula

\(m\) is mass (kg), \(v\) is velocity (m/s), \(\Omega \approx 7.2921 \times 10^{-5}\) rad/s is Earth's angular velocity, and \(\varphi\) is latitude. The force is zero at the equator (\(\sin 0° = 0\)) and strongest at the poles.

Example: a 100 kg object moving at 10 m/s at 45° latitude experiences \(F_c = 2 \times 100 \times 10 \times 7.2921 \times 10^{-5} \times \sin 45° \approx 0.103\) N.

Real-World Applications

The Coriolis effect shapes cyclone rotation, affects artillery and missile trajectories over long distances, and influences ballistics in sports. In the Northern Hemisphere, deflection is to the right of the motion; in the Southern Hemisphere, to the left.