Re: Coriolis

[Ludwik Kowalski <KowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

I just tried to simulate the Coriolis effect with Interactive
Physics and came to a conclusion that this is not possible
in its two-dimensional universe. Am I correct?

I did produce a round platform turned by a motor with a
desired speed (seen from above). But placing an abject
on its surface was not possible. The error message was
"body[1] and body [2] are overlapping beyond the
specified tolerence".

Brian's suggestion (see below) of asking kids to
discuss experiences is great but where do you find a
mary-go-round without wooden horses? Any suggestion
on how to improvise one in a large room?
Ludwik Kowalski

> I add to the theoretical approach an appeal to the experience
> the students may well have had in walking across a rotation
> platform (what we here call a merry-go-round and I think
> you call a carousel - or does a carousel have to have wooden
> horses on it?). If they have spent all their time in front of a
> television set and not in a playground, then I get them to try
> it out, walking radially in or out and also tangentially and
> intermediate directions.  It is probably a good idea to get all
> of them to do this to refresh their memories and help them
> participate in the discussions. Get them talking about it.
> They soon identify the frictional forces on their feet.  Get
> then discussing whether or not there is an unbalanced net
> force on them and, if there is, why they are not accelerated.

Roger Haar wrote:

>         I think that beside a clear explaination, a clear
> description of what the Coriolis effect is.  There are good
> videos on this.  (I first really understood the effect in an
> intro meteorology class.)  The video is something like
> this.  Two people are facing each other on opposite sides of
> a turntable, merry-go-round or whatever.  These two are
> trying to throw a ball back and forth. A camera is above the
> center of the turntable.  IF it is fixed to the ground the
> ball goes appears to go straight and the catcher moves away
> from the ball.  If the camera is fixed to the turntable, the
> ball curves away from the catcher.
>         Once it is clear what the effect is, and how it is
> reference frame dependent, the theory is easier.