Coriolis movie of draining pool?

In summary, there have been several experiments, including one in 1908 and one described in a famous article in the journal Nature, that demonstrated the Coriolis effect on the outflow of water through a central aperture. The experiment involved removing all other forces from the system and allowing the water to settle for 24 hours before slowly removing the drain plug. The resulting vortex rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, showing the amplified effect of the Earth's rotation. However, there are currently no videos available online demonstrating the necessary pool size for this experiment.
  • #1
cdorman2
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So we all know the Coriolis effect isn't demonstrated in a bathtub or toilet. Are there any videos online of the size of pool needed to demonstrate it? I saw one in grad school--black and white from the '50s--an indoor, above-ground pool with a drain in the center, allowed to settle for a week before the drain was removed. Haven't found anything like it make it to the Web, despite searching off and on for a year. Anybody else find something similar? Would help my class discussion a little...

Thanks,
Charles
 
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  • #2
"In 1908, the Austrian physicist Ottokar Tumlirz described careful and effective experiments which demonstrated the effect of the rotation of the Earth on the outflow of water through a central aperture. The subject was later popularized in a famous article in the journal Nature, which described an experiment in which all other forces to the system were removed by filling a 6 ft (1.8 m) tank with 300 US gal (1,100 L) of water and allowing it to settle for 24 hours (to allow any movement due to filling the tank to die away), in a room where the temperature had stabilized. The drain plug was then very slowly removed, and tiny pieces of floating wood were used to observe rotation. During the first 12 to 15 minutes, no rotation was observed. Then, a vortex appeared and consistently began to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (the experiment was performed in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Northern Hemisphere). This was repeated and the results averaged to make sure the effect was real. The report noted that the vortex rotated, "about 30,000 times faster than the effective rotation of the Earth in 42° North (the experiment's location)". This shows that the small initial rotation due to the Earth is amplified by gravitational draining and conservation of angular momentum to become a rapid vortex and may be observed under carefully controlled laboratory conditions."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect
 

1. How does the Coriolis effect affect the rotation of a draining pool?

The Coriolis effect is a phenomenon that occurs due to the Earth's rotation. It causes objects moving on the Earth's surface to appear to curve to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. This effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth, which creates a force that deflects the path of moving objects. In the case of a draining pool, the Coriolis effect is not strong enough to influence the direction of rotation.

2. Does the direction of the Coriolis effect change in different hemispheres?

Yes, the direction of the Coriolis effect changes in different hemispheres. This is because the Earth's rotation causes the Coriolis force to act in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres. In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes objects to deflect to the right, while in the southern hemisphere, it causes objects to deflect to the left.

3. Can the Coriolis effect influence the direction of a draining pool in real life?

No, the Coriolis effect does not have a noticeable impact on the direction of a draining pool in real life. The rotation of the Earth is too slow and the force of the Coriolis effect is too weak to significantly affect the direction of water draining from a pool. Other factors such as the shape and size of the pool, as well as any existing currents, will have a bigger influence on the direction of rotation.

4. Is the Coriolis effect the only factor that determines the direction of a draining pool?

No, the Coriolis effect is not the only factor that determines the direction of a draining pool. The shape and size of the pool, as well as any existing currents, can also play a role in determining the direction of rotation. In addition, other external forces such as wind and air pressure can also impact the direction of a draining pool.

5. Can the Coriolis effect be observed in small-scale experiments like a draining pool?

No, the Coriolis effect cannot be observed in small-scale experiments like a draining pool. This effect is only noticeable on a large scale, such as the rotation of the Earth or the movement of large weather systems. In small-scale experiments, other factors such as surface tension and the shape of the container will have a greater influence on the direction of rotation.

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