Exploration of animations of the motion of a hockey puck on a frozen Earth.

Estimated Time: 40–50 minutes

Each group should be assigned one of the animations at here. The groups should discuss their animation, until they understand it.

Familiarity with Coriolis and centrifugal acceleration.

• Computers with web access.
• Animations available here.

Emphasize the basic properties:

• Centrifugal acceleration always points towards the equator.
• Centrifugal acceleration is always present. In particular, it causes a motionless puck to start moving.
• Coriolis acceleration points to the right of the direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Coriolis acceleration is only present if the puck is moving — and is not located at the equator.

• Followup activity allowing students to construct their own examples.