Coriolis effect
Spinning-frame path bending
The Coriolis effect is the apparent deflection of moving objects when viewed from a rotating reference frame—most notably Earth.
Because Earth rotates, freely moving objects like air masses, ocean currents, and artillery shells appear to curve: rightward in the Northern Hemisphere, leftward in the Southern.
This effect drives large-scale weather patterns, including the rotation of hurricanes.
The popular belief that it determines which way toilet water spirals is false—bathroom fixtures are too small for the effect to overcome other factors.
Reliable equatorial air currents
- jet streamHigh-altitude wind current
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- anticycloneHigh-pressure weather system
- weather patternsRecurring atmospheric conditions
typhoon · tropical storm · polar vortex · monsoon · high-pressure · low-pressure · geostrophic wind · wind shear
Change in trajectory
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- sniperConcealed precision shooter
- long-range shootingHitting distant targets accurately
projectile · bullet drop · compensation · adjustment · targeting · aim · accuracy · deviation
Rapid rotation around axis
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- axisRotation reference line
- vortexRotating fluid column
- counterclockwiseRotating leftward from above
clockwise · hemisphere · gyroscope · turning · spiral
Device demonstrating Earth's rotation
- centrifugal forceApparent outward push when turning
- Newton's lawsThree motion axioms
- classical mechanicsLaws governing macroscopic motion
- conservation of momentumMovement quantity remains constant
vector · kinematics · dynamics
Rotating circular movements
- ocean circulationMovement of seawater globally
- Gulf StreamWarm Atlantic ocean current
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
- downwellingFluid sinking from surface
trade winds
Reliable equatorial air currents
- jet streamHigh-altitude wind current
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- anticycloneHigh-pressure weather system
weather patterns · typhoon · tropical storm · polar vortex · monsoon · high-pressure · low-pressure · geostrophic wind · wind shear · isobar
deflection
Change in trajectory
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- sniperConcealed precision shooter
long-range shooting · projectile · bullet drop · compensation · adjustment · targeting · aim · accuracy · deviation · correction
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- axisRotation reference line
- vortexRotating fluid column
counterclockwise · clockwise · hemisphere · gyroscope · turning · spiral
Foucault pendulum
Device demonstrating Earth's rotation
- centrifugal forceApparent outward push when turning
- Newton's lawsThree motion axioms
- classical mechanicsLaws governing macroscopic motion
gyres
Rotating circular movements
- ocean circulationMovement of seawater globally
- Gulf StreamWarm Atlantic ocean current
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
downwelling · eddy · drift
Coriolis effectfundamental force
Irreducible physical interaction type
gravity · electromagnetism · strong nuclear force · electromagnetic force