The Coriolis Effect doesn't make the toilet flush in a spiral. Why do sinks drain in a sprial?

Answer 1

You are correct that it is NOT the coriolis force that makes the toilet spiral in a particular direction (the latitude change over the diameter of your toilet or sink is hardly large enough for the effect to be an influence at all).

The spiraling direction is affected mostly by abnormalities in the drain surface, direction and flow of water going down and so on. As for why it is a spiral, well that is a complicated fluid dynamics problem, but it cannot just drop straight down as the water tries to push itself out of the way... as some water from the outer rim attains a larger veliocity it will rush into the center, causing the spiral effect which the other water follows (like a river bed forming on land).

Answer 2

Both go down in a spiral pattern. The urban legend of the Coriolis effect is just that, a legend. There is no difference between The Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The direction of spin has to do with design of the plumbing.

Answer 3

Didn't you pay attention in science class? A flushing toilet and sink drain are the same thing, they both would drain exactly down, if it wasn't for the Coriolis effect. The coriolis effect, in the northern hemisphere, makes most fluids spin in a counter-clockwise twist, and in the southernhemisphere in a clockwise twist. Here is a website to help you understand.

http://www.wildwildweather.com/pressure.htm

Although helping explain this to you may be an attempt in vain, as it seems you believe strongly against the Coriolis effect.

Answer 4

The Coriolis effect is only for weather patterns.
You can make the water in a sink drain either way.
Stir it with your finger one way and then stir it the other way. See?
The Coriolis effect on water is urban myth.
Trust me.

Answer 5

regularly, the plumbing for the kitchen sink and the plumbing for the lavatory all have a tendency to satisfy up and bring about an similar position. One will for sure result on the different in case your sewer is blocked up with espresso grounds. a huge wad of a few thing may reason a blocked sewer.... if no longer flushed down the sink with adequate water the espresso wad can seize the subsequent ingredient flushed.. e.g. a wad of bathing room paper and accompanyments... which will decrease back up behind and so on till you've a actual mess flowing out of your floor wastes and onto your eating room rug. (actual it ought to overflow out of a backyard gully first yet human beings inadvertently placed potplants and so on over the grate and those block up immediately). call the plumber.