Coriolis and Centrifugal Accelerations

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to help upper division undergraduate students determine which way the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations point.
2. Students use their small whiteboards to calculate the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations, and discuss with their neighbors which way these accelerations point.
3. The whole class wrap-up discussion includes the derivation the students had been asked to complete, aiding students in determining which way the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations point.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

The combination of multiple cross products and overall factors of −1 cause some confusion as to which way these accelerations point.

Can also be done as a SWBQ.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version