Classic Mustangs List Archive

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(Mr. Wizard tip of the day)

This toilet swirl thing you guys are describing is called the coriolis effect.
It not only effects not only the spin of water in your toilet it also effects
the weather patterns. This effect has to do more with the spin of the earth
than gravity wierding out


Coriolis effect (Coriolis force)
The Coriolis effect is an interesting phenomenon first described by the French
mathematician Gaspard Coriolis in the early 19th century. An object which
moves in a straight line above the surface of the Earth (and not parallel to
the equator) will appear to curve because the Earth is turning under it. This
aspect of the Coriolis effect must be taken into account in calculating the
trajectory of a vehicle launched into space. Similarly, something which is
relatively stationary near the surface of the Earth (such as an atmospheric
mass or weather system) will tend to turn because the equator is moving
faster, as the Earth rotates on its axis, than places to the North or South of
the equator. This aspect of the Coriolis effect is the reason that tropical
storms or cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere (called
hurricanes) and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere (called typhoons). It is
also why it is said that water in toilet bowls, bathtubs, and sinks tends to
rotate counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere as it drains, and clockwise
in the Southern hemisphere--although this is not the case because the Coriolis
force is very slight, and other rotational forces easily overcome it and cause
the water to swirl in either direction.

Any way thats all.

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