Coriolis Force
A benchtop base unit supporting a rotating arm on which a transparent water tank and counterbalance are mounted.
The water tank houses a submersible pump which produces a jet of water. The jet of water is observed to deflect when the arm rotates.
The deflection is due to the Coriolis force, a fictitious force which appears to act on objects moving within a frame of reference that is rotating.
Dials and a digital display on the base unit allow students to adjust the speed and direction of rotation, as well as the pump rate.
Learning outcomes
- Understanding of fictitious forces
- Visualisation of the Coriolis force effect
- Verification of the relationship between Coriolis force, the speed and direction of rotation and the velocity of objects moving within the rotating reference frame
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Coriolis ForceCoriolis Force
TM1005 - Experiment
