Coriolis Force and Two trains

By Dhakshina Perera (Master Mariner)

June 2018
Corliolis force one of the governing factor in creation of a cyclone, and many more phenomena like
Ekman’s spiral.

And affect on any moving object on earth surface, even a sniper bullet.

A beautiful act of nature in both destructive (formation of cyclones) and helpful ways (forming currents
and ocean gyres helps circulating heat and nutrients)

What is Coriolis force?

Let’s assume a High pressure system and a low pressure system exists nearby in Northern hemisphere of
the earth.

The pressure gradient force acting between the pressure systems, in simple, there is a pushing force
acting on air particles from high pressure system towards the low pressure system, and the movement
of particles from high to low should be a straight line theoretically.

BUT this doesn’t happen, instead of travelling in straight line, path deflect towards the right hand side of
the movement in northern hemisphere and towards left hand side in the southern hemisphere
(Fig.01).This deflection is caused due to coriolis force.
Why does it deflect?

So why does it deflect? If it is due to earth rotation how does it really happening?

Let’s look at the following experiment in order to understand the phenomenon.

Two Trains

Let’s consider two trains moving along two rail tracks which are parallel to each other (Fig.02), at
different speeds, one at 100kmph, and the other at 50kmph.

In fig.02 two similar trains are moving in parallel tracks, one (train ‘A’)with speed of 100kmph and
other(train’B’) 50 kmph, train ‘A’ overtakes train ‘B’ .

Note the points A and B on both trains.

These two points(A and B) will align to each other as train’A’ overtakes train’B’.

Assume there are two individuals standing on both points A and B(Fig.03)
Person (A) is having a speed of100 kmph and Person (B) is having a speed of 50kmph respectively.

The Jump

Now assume that person (A- 100kmph) jumps to the train(B -50kmph) , towards point (B) in a straight
line with enough speed to reach Train B .

Will person(A) be able to land exactly at , Point (B) on train(B) ???

It is obvious that he will not be able land at point B due to speed difference, Person A is having a speed
of 100 kmph since he is jumping from Train A , and landing on Train B which is having a speed of 50
kmph.

So then where would he be landing, Is it ahead of point B , or abaft of Point B , Since person A is having
more speed, he must be landing ahead of Point B. See Fig.04

Then what if Person B (50 kmph) jumps to train A(100kmph) in similar way, will he be able to land at
Point(A)???

He will land abaft of Point A due to less speed .See Fig.04

Both persons will not land in point A and B respectively, instead it can be seen that both persons deflect
to right hand side from their individual direction of jump.

Now let’s apply this motion to the earth.

Earth Rotation

As viewed from North Pole. See (Fig.06) Assume that there are two trains stopped ,at two points namely
‘A’ and ‘B’, in the same meridian but train ‘A’ at equator and Train’B’ at 20N latitude.
Due to the earth rotation both trains having a motion relative to each other, even though they are
stopped. Where Train’A’ having more relative speed than Train’B’ .

As in Fig.04, let’s assume that two persons ‘A’and ‘B’ are jumping to each other trains, See Fig.07
So it can be seen that due to the difference in relative speeds along the latitudes by the earth rotation ,
Coriolis force is getting generated , and deflect particles or any moving object towards right hand side of
the motion in Northern Hemisphere and left hand side in southern hemisphere.

A Low pressure system

In the atmosphere, motion of air particles are generated mostly by the pressure differences, and air
particles pushed towards a low pressure system due to pressure gradient force.

Coriolis force is acting on particles which move towards the low, thus deflecting from original path.

Let’s look at motion of air particles at a low pressure system, in this case a low pressure at Northern
hemisphere is considered. See Fig.08

Due to the deflection by coriolis force, particles tend to rotate around the low pressure system , in an
anticlockwise direction in northern hemisphere , creating a revolving storm, if enough energy in the
system ,will leads to a cyclonic condition.
Coriolis force weak near equator and Increases in higher latitudes

If we look back again at fig.04, the two trains. The lateral displacement or the deflection of jump,
depends on relative speed s of the trains.

In other words, If train’A’ increase its speed furthermore the deflection would be higher and if Train ‘A’
reduces its speed until the speed of train ‘B’ , the deflection would become shorter and will become zero
or the jump would become a straight line as both trains equalize speeds.

Let’s look back at earth rotation and consider the following question

At what latitude the radius of the small circle will become half of the earth radius?

The answer should be at 60 degrees North/South, if earth is considered a perfect sphere, please refer to
Fig.09

From above it can be explained that in lower latitudes the rate of change of Y is less compared to higher
latitudes, (In simple, half of radius is changing within 0-60 degrees and next half is changing within 60-
90 degrees)

Due to above, at lower latitudes the relative speeds between latitudes are less compared to higher
latitudes (Circumference of a circle is function of radius), and increases as the latitudes increases.

If the relative speeds between the latitudes are more, then the deflection is more, thus Coriolis Force
increases at higher latitudes.
In Summary

1.) Corilolis force is a function of relative speeds between Latitudes

2.) Particles tends to deflect to right hand side in northern hemisphere, and Left hand side in
Southern hemisphere
3.) Coriolis Force increases at higher latitudes