THE CORIOLIS EFFECT Joseph Stanovsky PhD

ABSTRACT This paper describes the construction of a vector algebra solution of an animation. The animation describes the motion of a marble rolling on a rotating surface. This paper presents a solution of an animation experiment in which the Coriolis effect is not utilized. It is assumed the non-use of the Coriolis effect in the solution indicates the Coriolis effect does not exist. INTRODUCTION Even though arguments supporting a Coriolis effect are not convincing, supporters of the Coriolis effect say it is the Coriolis effect that causes the peculiar motion seen in the animation of a marble rolling on a rotating horizontal surface. The animation itself is interesting [1] but the inferred cause [2] is neither compelling, real or interesting. THE EXPERIMENT A solution for the motion of a marble rolling on a rotating disk is developed for a marble that rolls without slip on a rotating disk. The view of the marble in Fig 1 shows the x-z plane of the marble, the velocity and acceleration at the center of gravity, the weight of the marble, the friction force and the force supporting the weight. z y
G v

y = marble angular velocity

G

aG
F=W

z r is from z to C x

W=Mg C W C W

Rotating x-y plane surface

Figure 1: A spherical marble of radius R is shown rolling on a rotating x-y plane. Point C and point C are in contact during the experiment. Figure 2 locates the marble on the rotating disk. y z

marble x

Rotating disk Figure 2: The plan view of a rotating disk shows the position of the marble at r. Equation (1) defines the marble location.

-1-

NO CORIOLIS EFFECT USED

Cos r = r Sin feet (1) 0 Equation (2) defines the acceleration at C on the rotating surface of the marble and the acceleration of C on the surface of the rotating disk. aC= | aC 0 0 | aC = | a C 0 0 | (2) The kinematic constraints in eq. (3) define the conditions that require the marble to remain in contact with the rotating disk.
aC aC 0 1 1 aC +aC= 0 + 0 = 0 0 0 0 Equation (3) indicates aC = -aC . 1 1

(3)

The marble velocity, either at point C on the rotating surface or at C on the marble with *r in one and r in the other, are defined in eq. (4). 1 1 1 -Sin v= ( r) = r 0 0 3 = r 3 Cos (4) Cos Sin 0 0 The shape and dimensions of the differential area abdc in Fig 3 is shown in eq. (5). y

*r

r
c a

bd = (r+dr) d x b ac = r d
d

Figure 3: The area abdc is the differential area at point C on the rotating surface. The point marked by locates the marble surface at C which is within the abdc area. 1 dAi = ijk (r d)j (dr)k; or, dA = (r d) (dr) = r d 0 1 1 0 0 0 = 0 dr 0 r dr d (5)

Equation (6) is the acceleration at C; note that the left and right sides are magnified by dA. This provides unit compatibility. 1 1 1 dA aC= dA ( vC) = d(r+dr) *r 3 0 0 3 (6) -Sin Cos 0 Evaluate eq. (6) in eq. (7). r = r =-90 -Cos dA aC= dA ( vC) = d(r+dr) r 2 -Sin (7) 3 r = 0 =+90 0

{ {

} }

The lower integration limit in eq. (7) is = +90, the upper limit is -90 together with a lower limit r = 0 (feet) and upper limit r (feet). -Sin +90 -(-Sin -90) dA aC= 2 (r3/3) 2 -Cos +90 -(-Cos -90) 3 0 C Equation (9) defines dA a . (8)

-2-

A VECTOR ALGEBRA SOLUTION

-1 -1 -2 1 3 2 3 2 dA aC= 2 (r3/3) 2 -0 -(-0) = 2 (r /3) 0 = -(4 r /3) 0 (9) 3 3 3 0 0 0 Integrate the magnifier dA in eq. (9), multiply right side by / and then divide left side by A and the right side by the equivalent r2. The result is eq. (10). -1 -1 -2 1 3 2 3 2 aC= 2 (r3/3) 2 -0 -(-0) = 2(r /3) 0 = -(4 r /3 ) 0 (10) 3 3 3 0 0 0 Next, calculate the acceleration aC = ( vC), the centripetal acceleration of the contact surface of the rotating marble. Note the use of *r as prescribed in Fig 3. 1 1 1 -Cos aC= ( *r) = *r 3 0 0 3 = *r 2 -Sin (11) 3 -Sin Cos 0 0 Equation (12) is a restatement of eq. (3) but different from eq. (3): the accelerations C a in eq. (11) and aCin eq. (10) are substituted. 1 Cos 2 aC +aC= 0 = -(4 r3/3) 2 0 = *r Sin = 0 (12) 3 3 0 0 To determine the component of eq. (12) parallel to the unit vector of r perform the dot product of eq. (12) with the unit vector of r in eq. 1. 1 Cos Cos 2 -(2 r/3) 2 0 = *r Sin Sin (13) 3 3 0 0 0 The dot product in eq. (13) produces eq. (14).

-(4 r3/3) 2 Cos = *r 2 (Cos2 +Sin2 ) = *r 2 (14 ) 3 3 3 The centripetal acceleration of the motion of the marble is described in eq. (15). -*r 2 = (4 r3/3) 2 Cos (15) 3 3 Select *r and the location of the marble (solution) is defined by r-value in eq. (15). A positive *r produces a negative centripetal acceleration at r. A negative *r yields a positive centripetal acceleration at r. UNUSUAL BUT USELESS The unusual equation; multiply both sides of eq. (15) by (155/113)2. The result is -2 *r 2 = 2(4 r3/3) 2 Cos which simplifies to eq. (16). 3 3 - ( *r) = (4 r3/3) Cos (16)

The left side of eq. (16) represents one half the circumference of a circle of radius *r whereas the right side defines the volume of a sphere of radius r Cos . CONCLUSIONS The solution in eq. (15) does not consider or use the Coriolis acceleration, Coriolis force or the Coriolis effect nor does it use the two equations of motion as these are used to evaluate dynamics problems (the equations of motion develop after 1700). The solution in eq. (15) is a result of mathematics, vector algebra, calculus and the newest branch of mechanics --- kinematics.

-3-

CONCLUSIONS
Andr e-Marie Amp` ere (1805-1865) must be identified as an extremely important contributor to dynamics as a result of his: Essai sur la Philosophie des Sciences. In that 1835 paper Amp` ere describes his discovery of kinematics (the study of motion). Amp` ere identifies kinematics in the language of France as cin ematique, the newest ingredient in the study of mechanics and a more important contribution than any of the conceptual statements presented in the 17th Century (i.c.e.) or earlier, and this includes F = G M1M2 /r or F = Ma. The solution in eq. (15) is free of conditions that might limit the performance of the animation. It is clear that the sphere can be a solid or a spherical shell made of uniform density.The surface of the marble and the rotating surface cannot be polished and made smooth. Friction on the two surfaces is a necessary condition but the magnitude of the coefficient of friction is not specified. Many of the conditions that determine the motion of the marble are undefined. Among the undefined properties is the diameter of the rotating surface or the angular velocity of the rotating disk. None of the undefined conditions are important for design, the imagined operation, or the observation of an animation. If, however, the animation scheme is reproduced by an experimental mechanism the undefined motion conditions of an animation must be carefully considered. Only the successful operation of a prototype determines whether the details selected are adequate. REFERENCES 1. Coriolis acceleration; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Fig 4. 2. Coriolis effect; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, p. 1. 3. Wolfram-Mathworld dictionary. 4. Coriolis acceleration derivation; American Meteorological Society Bulletine. 5. Carl-Gustaf Rossby; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, p. 1. 6. Norman Phillips; Carl-Gustaf Rossby: His Times, Personality and Actions, AMS Bull. vol 79, 6 June 1998. 7. Rossby number; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, p. 1. 8. Rossby wave; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, p. 1, 2.

-4-

LAGNIAPPE
CORIOLIS ACCELERATION Particle translation occurs in three, orthogonal directions. A particle does not rotate. The displacement vector s utilizes x, y and z as magnification factors of unit vectors i, j and k. s = | xi yj zk | Differentiating s relative to time produces velocity v. The differentiation of dv/dt produces the acceleration a. The Coriolis acceleration is thought to occur in the second differentiation; it occurs only if terms like di/dt, dj/dt and dk/dt and higher order terms are included in the differentiation process (which must have occurred earlier). d2x/dt2 i dx/dt di/dt x d2i/dt2 The total acceleration = d2/D /dt2 = d2y/dt2 j +2 dy/dt dj/dt + y d2j/dt2 d2z/dt2 k dz/dt dk/dt z d2k/dt2 The second matrix is the Coriolis Acceleration set equal to zero. d2x/dt2 i The Acceleration = d2/DP/Q /dt2 = d2y/dt2 j +0 d2z/dt2 k This zero matrix is the Coriolis Acceleration. The Coriolis acceleration is made zero because di/dt = dj/dt = dk/dt = 0 (unit vectors i = j = k = 1). In other derivations of the Coriolis acceleration (3, 4) the Coriolis acceleration is defined by the vector cross product 2 ( v) in which is the angular velocity vector around the z-axis and v is the velocity of the particle:v = ( r ). The 0ther data used is = | 0 0 and r = r | Cos Sin 0 |. 1 1 1 -Sin v = ( r ) = r 0 0 = r Cos . Cos Sin 0 0 1 1 1 -Cos The vector cross product 2 ( v) is r 0 0 = r 2 -Sin . -Sin Cos 0 0 It is important to notice that r2 defines the centripetal acceleration and does not contribute in any way to the definition of a Coriolis acceleration. ROSSBY Carl-Gustaf Rossby (1898-1957), like his friend Hans Ertel, was a natural scientist active in meteorology and oceanography. Rossby [5] is described only as as a student in Bergen, the University of Leipzig and at the Lindenberg Observatory (no degrees). Rossbys photograph appears on the cover of the 17 December 1956 issue of Time. For more information, read the memorial paper [6]. Among his research activities Rossby supported use of the Coriolis acceleration, force and effect. In 1939, Rossby includes the Coriolis force in the invention of the Rossby number. The Rossby number [7] is the ratio of inertial to Coriolis force. Ro = U Lf The terms in Ro are: U = velocity, L = length and f = 2 Sin in which is the angular frequency of planetary rotation, is the latitude and f defines the Coriolis frequency in radian per second. It was also in 1939 that Rossby identifies the Rossby wave [8]. The Rossby wave is described as the result of shear in rotating fluids.

-5-

LAGNIAPPE
Figure 4 reproduces the shear deformation diagram used in the design of structures. The deforming shear strain and stress are also shown.

Force (a) (b)

(c)

Figure 4: The depth of the rectangular beam in (a) is h and the width b. The beam is made of an elastic material. The elastic shear deformation of a thin section of the beam is in (a), the angle in (b) is shear strain and (c) shows the shear stress . Figure 5 is an introduction to the theory of the Rossby wave [3] using two pieces of paper and by imagining the two papers as initially aligned clouds but after a period of time the two imagined clouds appear deformed (laterally displaced).
Upper cloud Paper 2 Lower cloud Paper 1 Lower boundary Upper boundary Paper 2 Paper 1 Deformation

(a) (b) Figure 5: This sketch shows the upper boundary on the lower cloud and the lower boundary on the upper cloud. What causes cloud motion in a Rossby wave is neither force or acceleration. Cloud motion produces no shear force or strain just relative motion produced in some way not yet adequately described. Finally, the Coriolis acceleration does not exist. Therefore, neither do the Coriolis force or effect exist.
A NECESSARY ADDENDUM The articles describing Rossbys research contained several unusual words and the creative units. The following words were entered in Wolframs Mathworld Dictionary. The results are appended. (1) Cyclostrophic or cyclostrophic balance: results not found. (2) Cyclogeostrophic or cyclogeostrophic balance: results not found. (3) Angular frequency: results not found. (4) Rossby, Rossby number or Rossby wave: results not found. (5) Coriolis frequency: results not found. (6) Geostrophic: results not found. (7) Frequency: a result found but with a meaning contrary to angular velocity. (8) Barotrophic: results not found. (9) Baroclinic: results not found. (10) Energy flux: results not found. (11) Tangential speed (magnitude of angular velocity of site on Earth surface?): result not found. (12) Shear stress or strain (likely not present in the Rossby wave theory): results not found. (13) Can the algebraic sign of sin be negative?

-6-

LAGNIAPPE
The following statement is from the Intuitive explanation of the description of the Rossby number (and Coriolis force or effect): As the Earth turns around its axis, everything attached to it turns with it (imperceptibly to our senses). The reason: a constant linear velocity, both large and small magnitudes, whether observed on a wagon, train, ship, airplane or space craft is impossible to measure or detect. Acceleration is detectable. The daily angular velocity of Earth is constant so there is no acceleration anywhere within the volume of Earth (except at a seismic event --- at an earthquake site on the surface of Earth or deep in its volume). A clement reader will certainly cringe at everything attached to it turns with it.

SIMPLE (Opinion) Happy men dont volunteer!

BATTERED WOMEN (Opinion) Save us from men who prey! The battering women is the act of cowards.

ABOUT PI In the 4th Century (i.c.e.) Chinese mathematicians were using the ratio 355/113 for . -(355/113) = -0.00000026676

FRIEND FRED and FREDS FRIEND (A True Story) Fred Stuve was in 1950 a graduate student of Aeronautical Engineering in The University of Texas. Fred was a graduate of Texas A&M, but before that he served on a Navy Aircraft Carrier as the Catapult Officer. It was Mary Swaim, Secretary to Phil Ferguson and to the faculty of Civil Engineering who introduced me to Fred, a man with no faults, save one: Fred was too kind. Fred and I lived on Pease Drive in rooms rented from Mrs McCarty. Mary, Fred and I occasionally met for dinner at places like the lunch counter at Naus Pharmacy on 24th Street and San Gabriel, The Nighthawk on Guadalupe, at Threadgills Service Station on Burnet Road (where we ate and got gas) and occasionally we met at a boo-hiss melodrama at Scholzs Bier Garten. Fred had a most unusual friend. Friend lived nearby, but I never met him. Fred liked to talk with Friend about a variety of issues, but Fred seemed most willing to tell me about the amazing automobile that Friend owned. Fred often repeated the amazing statistics recited by his Friend. Actually, Friend would tell about the brand and amount of oil bought and installed, about the brand of gasoline and its consumption and more. Friend told Fred when he washed the car, or greased the car or when he planned to do either again. These conversations were Freds entertainment. In order to influence future conversations Fred would do things to the car. On dark nights he would siphon gasoline from the car and await the mileage reports. If Freds Friend seemed too alarmed about the performance of his car, Fred would be extremely sympathetic, look under the hood offering to find the problem. Fred usually did nothing after looking under the hood, but sometimes he would say I think I fixed your problem. Soon after, on another dark night, Fred would add gasoline to his Friends amazing car. During one month Fred might add six to ten gallons of gasoline (more than was siphoned). That was Freds way of contributing to the conversation. Telling friends about this amazing car and about its owner was Freds kind of entertainment.

-7-