Coriolis force, real or just an illusion?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Coriolis force and its implications in fluid dynamics, particularly in hurricanes. Participants clarify that hurricanes do indeed rotate, and the Coriolis effect contributes to this rotation, although it is often misunderstood as a fictitious force. The Coriolis force is real but is classified as an inertial effect that arises in non-inertial reference frames. Key points include the distinction between centrifugal force and the Coriolis effect, and the importance of understanding inertial forces in physics.

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  • Understanding of inertial and non-inertial reference frames
  • Familiarity with Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic knowledge of fluid dynamics and meteorology
  • Concept of fictitious forces in physics
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  • #91
Change in pressure said:
hause high 50km at equator

C(equator)=2r x 3.14 = 2 x 6371km x 3.14 =40 009km / 24h = 1667km/h

C(ball)= 2r x 3.14 = 2 x (6371km+50km) x3.14 =40323km /24h = 1680km/h
1680-1667=13km/h

top of hause travel 13km/h faster then bottom...

so this 13km/h is additional velocity which ball have in east direction

with this information we can calculate how far east will ball hit the ground....
Given the time of fall, yes. Note that the proposed calculation does not depend at all on the radius of the earth. The 6371 cancels out.

But that's the inertial frame calculation. In the rotating frame there is no difference in velocity. The explanation for the deviation in the landing point derives from Coriolis instead.
 
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  • #92
Change in pressure said:
so this 13km/h is additional velocity which ball have in east direction

with this information we can calculate how far east will ball hit the ground....
Approximately. For a more precise calculation in the inertial frame you would find the intersection of the elliptical orbit with the curved surface.
 

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