# Coriolis acceleration and magnitude question

Q. An aeroplane flies at constant altitude due south over London. Its speed is 320 km/h and the latitude of London is 51 degrees North. What is the magnitude and direction of the Coriolis acceleration on the aeroplane?

Do I use Coriolis acceleration = 2ω x v to find acc? Is ω = 2π / 24 x60 x60 ??
What is the direction?

tiny-tim
Homework Helper
hi P-Jay1 !
Do I use Coriolis acceleration = 2ω x v to find acc? Is ω = 2π / 24 x60 x60 ??
What is the direction?

actually it's minus 2ω x v

(and yes, = |ω| = 2π / 24 x60 x60)

to find the direction of https://www.physicsforums.com/library.php?do=view_item&itemid=86", remember that velocity (of a fixed point on the Eartth) = ω x r, so that'll help you to work out the direction!

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Hey Tim!

That's cleared up a few things.. still a bit confused about the direction though. I'm not sure where the latitude of London comes in.

Do I use ω x r = ωrsinθ ? Do I use the right hand rule??? The plane is in the Northern hemisphere, but travelling south, so is direction of Coriolis acceleration east to west?

tiny-tim
Homework Helper
I'm not sure where the latitude of London comes in.

That helps you find θ.
Do I use ω x r = ωrsinθ ? Do I use the right hand rule??? The plane is in the Northern hemisphere, but travelling south, so is direction of Coriolis acceleration east to west?

|ω x v| = ωvsinθ.

As to the rest, you're on your own … I don't want to muddle my brain up trying to work it out!