Objective: Is heat and pressure the only thing that determines which way the wind and weather go on Earth?
1. Read Blue Books Pg. 534-536 "Factors Affecting Wind". Write one quote per paragraph about how the wind is affected.
2. Coriolis Effect Demonstration
A. Using a pencil, spin a piece of paper CLOCKWISE. Try to spin it at a steady, consistent speed.
B. Once the steady speed is established, try to draw a line from the middle of the paper outward. You may need to do several trials.
C. Describe the line you drew. Straight? Curved? If curved, which direction?
D. Repeat all steps but spin the paper COUNTER CLOCKWISE
3. Conclusions - Turn in
1. Describe the Coriolis Effect and how it affects the wind and weather.
2. Which direction does the Earth spin when looking at it from the Northern Hemisphere?
3. Which direction do all storm systems move in the Northern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect?
4. Which direction does the Earth spin when looking at it from the Souther Hemisphere?
5. Which direction do all storm systems move in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect?
6. It takes longer to fly from New York to Los Angeles than the other way around, even though the flights are the same distance. Explain this using your understanding of the Coriolis Effect.
7. Without the Coriolis Effect, describe the movement of storm systems based on heat and pressure alone.
8. Military personnel must account for the Coriolis effect when firing rockets and missiles into the air. Explain which direction the U.S. military must adjust for when testing missiles in the Northern Hemisphere.