Re: [Phys-l] Coriolis effect puzzlement

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 12/07/2011 08:11 AM, Bob Sciamanda wrote:
> > And the effect doesn't work on a perfectly spherical distribution of the 
> > > mass, yes?
> *********************
> I don’t know.  But I would speculate that tidal and frictional forces would 
> produce bulges which would tend to migrate to center facing positions.


As previously mentioned, the correct physics has to do with
tidal strain and internal friction.  It doesn't matter whether
the object started out symmetrical or not.

In particular, an asymmetrical potato-shaped object will not
absorb energy if it is infinitely rigid, in which case tidal 
stress produces zero strain.  Also it will not absorb energy 
if it has zero coefficient of internal friction, in which 
case there is strain but no dissipation.

Once again I do not understand where the question is coming
from.  The basic principle here is known from pre-high-school
physics:  balls roll downhill.  This system, too, will move
toward its lowest-energy state ... in particular the lowest
energy that is compatible with conservation of total angular
momentum.

At the post-high-school level you can formalize this in terms
of thermodynamic ideas of irreversibility, spontaneity, and
stability ... but the answer comes out the same:  The lowest
accessible state is stable, and all other states will 
spontaneously and irreversibly decay toward that state.
  http://www.av8n.com/physics/spontaneous.htm

In other words, balls roll downhill.