On the direction of Coriolis force and the angular momentum conservation

Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative analysis of the Coriolis force direction using the conservation of angular momentum and comparing it with quantitative calculation. In order to understand the implications of the theoretical expression for Coriolis force, we show the theory to students and teachers in a different way. When an object is on a rotating flat plate or rotating sphere (with constant angular velocity), has an associated tangential velocity due to rotation. If the object moves toward a larger (smaller) radius, in order to conserve angular momentum, there must be a force to reduce (increase) the tangential velocity. If the object moves parallel to tangential velocity, for angular momentum conservation, when tangential velocity increases (decreases) there must be a force which impels the object toward a larger (smaller) radius.