Coriolis Effect

Background: The Earth’s diversity in weather and climate are greatly affected by global wind circulation patterns. Patterns of air circulation seen on Earth have four causative factors which include the unequal heating of Earth’s surface, seasonal variation in temperatures, Earth’s axial rotation, and Earth’s physical properties. The Coriolis effect causes the deflection of masses to the west when going from the North Pole to the equator and also plays an important role in global patterns of air circulation.

Purpose:

1) Inspect how the Earth rotates and how this varies at different locations on Earth.

2) Determine the effect of Earth’s rotation on wind current patterns.

3) Examine wind current patterns in mid-latitudinal areas between the Earth’s poles and equator.

4) Examine patterns of fluid convection seen on Earth.

5) Make representative storm systems that are resultant of Earth’s axis rotation.

Hypothesis:

1) If the globe spins west to east, then the globe will seem to spin counterclockwise from the

North Pole.

2) If a turntable is spun while a pen remains stationary, then the lines made will represent wind

currents produced.

3) I lines are drawn on the turntable while it spins counterclockwise, then those lines will convey

the wind current in the mid-latitudinal area of Earth.

4) If color dye is dropped into a circulating pan with water, then the pattern of colors that arises

represents convection currents.

5) If food coloring is placed into the turntable, then the arising model will show the patterns of

storm systems.

Procedures:

Activity 1:

1) Place a rod through both ends of a globe.

2) Have two people hold the globe on opposite ends.

3) Hold the rod in a manner such that one person sees the North Pole and the other, the South

Pole.

4) In the east to west direction, spin the globe.

5) Make note and record the direction in which the globe appears to be moving from each pole

end.

Activity 2:

1) Get a turntable and 2 markers that are different colors.

2) Draw line from middle of table to edge and label “R”.

3) Turn table counterclockwise and keep steady speed.

4) Draw line from center to edge once again and label “1CCW”.

5) Repeat these steps and then label the lines 2CCW and 3CCW.

6) Do the same thing except counterclockwise and label lines 4CCW, 5CCW, and 6CCW.

Activity 3:

1) Hold globe straight.

2) Draw arrows for air movement for the North Pole to equator, South Pole to equator, equator to

North Pole, and equator to South Pole.

3) Redraw the arrows on a picture of a globe.

Activity 4:

1) Get 2 100mL beakers.

2) Fill one beaker with 80 mL of ice water and the other with 80 mL of hot water.

3) Put 0.75 inches of room temp. water in the foil pan.

4) Put two beakers away from each other in the pan.

5) Put dye into pan next to the cold water beaker.

6) Record observations.

Activity 5:

1) Fill pan half way with hot water.

2) Put the pan on the turntable.

3) Begin rotating the turntable at constant speed.

4) After 1 minute, drop dye into the table and stop spinning it.

5) Record observations seen.