-5

What causes the Coriolis effect?

Bernhard
  • 5,085
Ovi
  • 2,899
  • 8
  • 30
  • 42

1 Answers1

3

The rotation of your coordinate system causes the Coriolis effect. Things move in straight lines, but if your coordinate system is rotating, then the straight lines look curved from the perspective of your coordinate system.

If you want to insist that objects move in straight lines in your coordinate system, then you must invent a fictitious reason why objects are skewing off every which-way. Such a force is called a "Coriolis force". There is no actual force acting upon the objects, they just appear to be curving away due to your rotating coordinate system.

So8res
  • 1,145