Coriolis effect
[ kawr-ee-oh-lis ]
/ ˌkɔr iˈoʊ lɪs /
noun
the apparent deflection (Coriolis acceleration) of a body in motion with respect to the earth, as seen by an observer on the earth, attributed to a fictitious force (Coriolis force) but actually caused by the rotation of the earth and appearing as a deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and a deflection to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Also called
deflecting force.
Origin of Coriolis effect
1965–70; named after Gaspard G.
Coriolis (died 1843), French civil engineer
British Dictionary definitions for coriolis force
Coriolis force
/ (ˌkɒrɪˈəʊlɪs) /
noun
a fictitious force used to explain a deflection in the path of a body moving in latitude relative to the earth when observed from the earth. The deflection (Coriolis effect) is due to the earth's rotation and is to the east when the motion is towards a pole
Word Origin for Coriolis force
C19: named after Gaspard G.
Coriolis (1792–1843), French civil engineer
Scientific definitions for coriolis force (1 of 2)
Coriolis force
A velocity-dependent pseudo force used mathematically to describe the motion of bodies in rotating reference frames such as the Earth's surface. Bodies moving on the plane of rotation appear to experience a force, leftward if the rotation of the reference frame is clockwise, rightward if counterclockwise. Such motion gives rise to the Coriolis effect.
Scientific definitions for coriolis force (2 of 2)
Coriolis effect
[ kôr′ē-ō′lĭs ]
The observed effect of the Coriolis force, especially the deflection of objects or substances (such as air) moving along the surface of the Earth, rightward in the Northern Hemisphere and leftward in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis effect is named after the French engineer Gustave Gaspard Coriolis (1792-1843).
Cultural definitions for coriolis force
Coriolis effect
[ (kawr-ee-oh-lis) ]
An apparent force ultimately due to the rotation of the Earth. It is the Coriolis effect that makes the air in storms rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.