Question

Which one of the following statements about the Coriolis force is not correct ?
1. It is maximum at the Poles.
2. It is absent at the Equator.
3. It deflects the wind to the right direction : in the southern hemisphere.
4. It deflects the wind to the right direction in the northern hemisphere.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : It deflects the wind to the right direction : in the southern hemisphere.

The correct answer is It deflects the wind to the right direction: in the southern hemisphere.

• The Coriolis effect describes the pattern of deflection taken by objects not firmly connected to the ground as they travel long distances around  Earth.
• The Coriolis effect is responsible for many large-scale weather patterns.
• The key to the Coriolis effect lies in Earth’s rotation. Specifically, Earth rotates faster at the Equator than it does at the poles.
  • Equatorial regions race nearly 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles)/hour.
  • Near the poles, Earth rotates at a sluggish 0.00008 kilometers (0.00005 miles)/hour.
• The Coriolis effect becomes more extreme as you move further away from the equator toward the poles.
• Due to this Coriolis force, the winds in the Northern Hemisphere get deflected towards the right, and in the Southern Hemisphere get deflected towards the left.
• Wind and ocean currents are strongly affected by the Coriolis effect.