Question

The moving air parcel follows the dashed curved path shown on the map. The thick black arrow at Point B shows the parcel's direction of motion at that location. At that instant, the longer thin red arrow represents the ________ force.

a) Centrifugal
b) Gravitational
c) Frictional
d) Coriolis

Answer 1

The longer thin red arrow represents the Coriolis force, which is a fictitious force acting on objects in motion within a rotating frame of reference, such as the Earth. It causes deflection to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. The Coriolis force is significant in large-scale motions, such as wind patterns.

Step-by-step explanation:

The longer thin red arrow represents the Coriolis force. The Coriolis force is a fictitious force that acts on objects in motion within a rotating frame of reference, such as the Earth. In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis force deflects the motion to the right, while in the southern hemisphere, it deflects to the left. The Coriolis force is a significant factor in large-scale motions, such as wind patterns.