- #1
Jimbone
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Homework Statement
I'm using MATLAB show the path of a projectile fired directly up(directly out from the center of the earth) from 41 degrees north latitude. Air resistance, variation of gravity cause by height, and the centrifugal force are for now ignored. What I'm trying to figure out is why there is a north deflection of the projectile. That is why does the object land north of where it was fired while there was no initial north/south velocity or displacement.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I've ruled out gravity because it will only act in the up/down direction (until the object is deflected north/south then it will have some impact). I'm thinking that it has to do with the up/northward direction of the angular velocity of the earth. It is perfectly parallel with the Earth's axis of rotation. Here are my plots.
Any thoughts?