Why Coriolis Acceleration Matters for Vertical Projection

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of Coriolis acceleration on a particle projected vertically upward, specifically questioning why the particle does not land back at the original projection point when only gravity and Coriolis effects are considered.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Exploratory

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the symmetry of Coriolis acceleration during ascent and descent, questioning whether it cancels out. Some suggest that the Coriolis effect may be a higher-order perturbation, while others emphasize the role of angular momentum in understanding the phenomenon.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering various perspectives on the Coriolis effect and its implications. Some have suggested practical experiments to observe the effects, while others are analyzing the underlying physics concepts.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing exploration of assumptions regarding the symmetry of forces involved and the conditions under which the Coriolis effect is analyzed. Participants are considering the implications of performing experiments in different environments.

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Homework Statement


If you project a particle vertically upward, and you neglect everything except gravity and the Coriolis acceleration, my book says that it will not land on the point where you projected it. Why does this make any sense since the Coriolis force should be antisymmetric on the ascent and on the descent and should thus cancel?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Why not? - (w cross v) = w cross -v, right?
 
Last edited:
I think you might actually have to look at a solution to get the full story. That v -> -v reverses the coriolis acceleration is a valid observation IF you are treating the acceleration as an infinitesimal perturbation to the w=0 trajectory. But that just means that the displacement of the landing position is a higher order effect.
 
It's easiest to understand using angular momentum.
To keep angular momentum constant, the angular velocity has to decrease as the altitude
increases.
 
pam said:
It's easiest to understand using angular momentum.
To keep angular momentum constant, the angular velocity has to decrease as the altitude
increases.
I don't see how that explains the lack of symmetry in the ascent and the descent.
 
This is very sensible if you can manage to try it. Do you live somewhere where you can get on a rotating platform (a Merry-go-round) or one of those kid's spinners at the playground (if it's not covered by snow). In a pinch find a rotating stool which is fastened to the floor. Get a tennis ball. While spinning, toss it in the air. Watch what happens going up. Watch what happens coming down.
 
TVP45 said:
This is very sensible if you can manage to try it. Do you live somewhere where you can get on a rotating platform (a Merry-go-round) or one of those kid's spinners at the playground (if it's not covered by snow). In a pinch find a rotating stool which is fastened to the floor. Get a tennis ball. While spinning, toss it in the air. Watch what happens going up. Watch what happens coming down.
That is a different effect.
 
Well, you're partly right. The movement outward is centrifugal force, but the movement CW or CCW is the coriolis force.
 

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