Can rotational force of the earth have any effect on flying projectiles?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the effects of Earth's rotation on the trajectory of flying projectiles, specifically comparing projectiles launched eastward versus westward. Participants consider theoretical implications, potential experimental setups, and the influence of fictitious forces such as centrifugal and Coriolis forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that projectiles launched eastward may land farther than those launched westward due to the Earth's rotation providing an additional force to the eastward projectiles.
  • Others argue that the effect of Earth's rotation is more about the time the projectile is in the air, allowing the Earth to rotate beneath it, rather than a direct force acting on the projectile.
  • One participant mentions that the centrifugal force and Coriolis force are relevant in the context of projectile motion, particularly in the northern hemisphere.
  • There is a discussion about whether centrifugal and Coriolis forces are fictitious, with some asserting that they are real effects that cannot be neglected in a rotating frame.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that the effects of Earth's rotation on projectile motion are negligible compared to air resistance and other factors.
  • A participant provides calculations related to the centrifugal force at the equator and its minimal effect on gravity, suggesting that the rotation does not significantly alter the distance a projectile travels.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the implications of the Coriolis force, noting that it varies with latitude and is zero at the equator.
  • One participant humorously speculates about military applications, suggesting that advanced systems may account for Earth's rotation in their calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effects of Earth's rotation on projectile motion. Multiple competing views remain, with some asserting significant effects and others claiming they are negligible.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include various assumptions about the effects of air resistance, the relevance of fictitious forces, and the specific conditions under which the effects of Earth's rotation might be observed. The complexity of calculating these effects is acknowledged, with references to different frames of reference and their implications.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students and enthusiasts of physics, particularly those exploring concepts of motion, forces, and the effects of Earth's rotation in practical scenarios.

  • #31
A.T. said:
Yes, that is the explanation for a inertial frame, where there is no Coriolis force.

Not the time of flight of the object is crucial, but how high it flies. It has the same tangential speed as the surface, but with greater height a lower angular speed, so it stays behind the Earth's rotation.
When a projectile or bullet is fired up vertically the height to which it flies would be dependent on the time of it's flight.The longer it took the higher it's flight.
So the height is crucial but the time of flight should tell you how high it flew.
 
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  • #32
Buckleymanor said:
There would be no difference in the distance the balls traveled on Earth.
Buckleymanor, this is incorrect. Read posts #16, #18, and #29.
 
  • #33
D H said:
Buckleymanor, this is incorrect. Read posts #16, #18, and #29.
Yes I agree, your explanation #29 explains in some detail.
What I was not taking into consideration was the highly eliptical orbit the bullet is put in caused by the rotation of the Earth when the bullet is fired eastwards.
Obviosly this effects the time of flight and should be taken into consideration(which you have).
Thanks for your explanations.
KB
 
  • #34
Final remark: The European Space Agency launch site is the Guiana Space Centre, 5o9'25" North latitude. The preferred launch direction is due east for the simple reason that doing so maximizes the extra boost the rockets get for free thanks to the Earth's rotation.
Presume the time of launch is important.
At certain times the launch direction might be pointing east but would be pointing in the wrong direction due to the Earths orbit around the Sun.
So any extra boost would be minimized.
Thanks.KB.
 
  • #35
The Sun is pretty much irrelevant when it comes to the energy needed to launch a vehicle into low Earth orbit. The Sun does have a small, perturbative effect on vehicles in low Earth orbit. This effect is small but cumulative. The cumulative effect during the 10 to 15 minutes needed to go from the launch platform to orbit insertion is incredibly small, so small that it is not taken into account. The uncertainties in atmospheric drag and thruster performance vastly overwhelm this tiny effect.

For a vehicle going on to other planets, the direction in which it is pointing when it performs its Earth departure burn is very critical. An analogous situation to launching east versus west applies.
 

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