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.

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

Reviews