2006-06-27 18:15:08 · 8 answers · asked by Jon R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
the coriolis effect causes things in motion (like the water in a pipe) to be deflected in one direction north of the equator and the opposite direction south of the equator, which results in the clockwise or counter clockwise rotation.
it's because your frame of reference (the pipe) is rotating (due to the rotation of the earth) causing the apparent deflection of the moving object (water).
2006-06-27 18:37:34 · answer #1 · answered by noshyuz 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Same reason storms swirl in different directions depending upon where they formed...the Coriolis Effect.
One can get water to flow down a drain in a different direction, but that is usually a result of the water having been stirred by either something being put in it to stir or more water flowing in from a certain direction. If you have a tub and pull a cork out of the middle of the bottom of said tub from underneath, the water will begin a swirling motion like you described respective of which hemisphere the tub is in.
2006-06-27 21:27:53 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In layman terms when you apply a left-to-right force at the top edge of the water, you get a counter clockwise swirl while the same force at the bottom edge of the water, you get a clockwise swirl.
Above the equator (counter clockwise):
1. gravity pulls the water DOWN towards the earth's center
2. the rotation of the earth (east to west, right to left) acts on the TOP edge of the water.
Below the Equator (clockwise):
1. gravity pulls the water UP towards the earth's center
2. the rotation of the earth (east to west, right to left) acts on the BOTTOM edge of the water.
2006-06-27 18:37:54 · answer #3 · answered by Son of Gap 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Coriolis Effect is much too small to have any effect on the direction in which water swirls. This is simply an urban myth. There are greater influences such as the design of the pipe and how the water is pumped into it.
2006-06-27 18:30:26 · answer #4 · answered by itsverystrange 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The standard answer is that it's due to Coriolus forces which rise from the change in tangential velocity as a function of distance from earth center. However, I believe that it has been recently shown that water in either hemisphere can swirl in either direction.
2006-06-27 18:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gp4 got it right. There's alsways a little tangential velocity one way or the other and this determines the swirl direction.
2006-06-27 18:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by Steve 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something's defied gravity
2006-06-30 12:13:02 · answer #7 · answered by 22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Itsverystrange is right!
2006-06-27 18:32:25 · answer #8 · answered by dano 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋