Question

The effect of Earth's rotation on the path of objects moving across its surface is greatest at the poles, and diminishes to zero at the Equator. In summary, the Coriolis Effect causes objects freely moving horizontally over the Earth's surface in the Northern Hemisphere to appear to curve to the ________.

a) Left
b) Right
c) North
d) South

Answer 1

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis Effect causes objects freely moving horizontally over the Earth's surface to appear to curve to the b. right, a consequence that is particularly observable in large-scale motions such as weather patterns and ocean currents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Coriolis Effect is a phenomenon caused by the Earth's rotation that affects the path of objects moving across its surface. Its effects are most easily observed in large-scale atmospheric patterns, such as wind and weather systems. When viewing the Earth from above the North Pole, the planet rotates counterclockwise. Because of this rotation, objects that are freely moving horizontally over the Earth's surface in the Northern Hemisphere seem to curve to the right.

This effect is evident in the counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere as the Coriolis force deflects the winds to the right, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the force is to the left, causing cyclones to rotate in the opposite direction. The Coriolis Effect is negligible for smaller motions but is significant for large-scale motions like those in weather systems and ocean currents.