Credit: University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana. Click to view the full-length movie (2 MB), which beautifully illustrates the Coriolis effect. But playing ball on a merry-go-round is definitely a Coriolis experience. Contrary to popular belief, Coriolis forces do not control your bathroom drains-Earth doesn't spin that fast. Hurricanes swirl because of the Coriolis effect, the spinning platform being Earth itself. Physicists call this the "Coriolis effect," and it happens on any spinning platform. You'll feel your arm pulled strangely to one side as you make the throw, and once in flight, the ball will veer wildly. Try throwing the ball to your friend across the ride from you, or even just a few feet beside you, and see if they can catch it on the first attempt. Next time you go to a playground, try this: Bring along a ball and a friend, and get on the merry-go-round. One day, astronauts might travel through the solar system onboard spinning spaceships.
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