Name ____________________________THE CORIOLIS EFFECT ...........HR__________________

I. Which way does the earth spin? Draw and describe the earth's spin below:

Side view: North Pole view: South Pole view:

2. Place the earth spin model on the desk. Lift the pink sheet to erase any marks. Place the "launcher" along the side of the model so it points straight across the middle. The ball represents a moving mass reacting to the earth's spin. Follow the instructions below:

A. . NORTH POLE VIEW: For the first experiment you will launch the ball across a non-spinning model. Sketch the results below and leave the track on the model.

B. NORTH POLE VIEW: Slowly rotate the model in the correct North Pole view direction. Launch the ball and draw what happens. Leave the track on the model.

C. SOUTH POLE VIEW: Slowly rotate the model in the correct South Pole view direction. Launch the ball and draw what happens. Leave the track on the model.

QUESTIONS:

1. Describe how a mass will curve due to the earth's rotation in the northern hemisphere (North Pole view):

2. Describe how a mass will curve in the southern hemisphere:

3. What effects the curvature (how sharply the path curves) of the track?

4. What types of "global" patterns may be determined by the earth's spin? Think of at least 3 and explain why you think this.