Science Forums 2

[Boerseun]

Hi CNG:

The problem with understanding the Coriolis effect is the difference between tubes and spheres.

If you travel down a tube, the circumference stays the same. In other words, the dynamics as far as your x-axis versus y-axis co-ordinates stay the same.

Travel down a sphere, and as your latitute (y-axis) decrease, the 'width' (or x-axis) increase, complicating the whole issue.

If the matrix you happen to find yourself on (in this case a sphere) also happens to be spinning, weird things start to happen - like the shape you find in hurricanes etc. If the Earth was a tube, it wouldn't happen.

I don't exactly see why you've got a problem with my mate Coriolis...