Coriolis Force Direction with Rotating Ball and Velocities

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
4 replies · 2K views
buzzing
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement




A rotating ball with rotational angular velocity ω= (0,0,ωz) . What is the direction of the coriolis force with the following velocities: Va = (Vx, Vy,0) ; Vb= (Vx, 0,Vz)

Homework Equations



All i know about coriolis force is F= 2m(vχω). The question even doesn't say any angles. So i am not too sure if the question is right.

The Attempt at a Solution





 
Physics news on Phys.org
buzzing said:
All i know about coriolis force is F= 2m(vχω). The question even doesn't say any angles. So i am not too sure if the question is right.

The Coriolis force is 2m times the vector product v x ω. Recall how to obtain the vector product using coordinates.

ehild
 
the vector product only gives a multipication of co ordinates but doesn't give the direction though.
 
The vector product gives the coordinates of the product vector. You can find from the components what angles the force vector enclose with the axes.
Show what you got for the Coriolis force in case of both velocities.

ehild
 
Last edited:
The two product for each velocity i got is (-WZVy,WzVx,0). and the next one is (0,WzVx,0).

Thanks for replies ehlid!