Name: Date:
Student Exploration: Coriolis Effect
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: Coriolis effect, deflect, frame of reference, high-pressure system, low-pressure system, tropical
cyclone, velocity
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
The diagram shows the prevailing winds on Earth’s surface. The
arrows show the most common wind directions at different latitudes.
1. Look at the winds blowing toward the equator. In which way are
these winds bent, or deflected?
W
e
s
t
2. Look at the winds blowing toward the north and south poles. In
which direction are these winds deflected?
E
a
s
t
Gizmo Warm-up
The deflection of winds on Earth’s surface is called the Coriolis
effect. You will learn what causes this effect by playing catch. Meet
Willie and June, who live near the train station. One of their favorite
things to do is climb on top of the trains and play catch. (Don’t try this
at home!)
In the Coriolis Effect Gizmo, you can see Willie and June playing
catch. Willie is the thrower and June is the catcher. Set the Catcher
speed to Slow.
1. Click Play ( ), and then Throw when the thrower and catcher are lined up. What happens?
The ball gets thrown too far up and they cannot catch up.
2. Click Reset ( ). Turn on Show ball path. Click Play and Throw. Does the ball go straight across in the
direction it is thrown, or at a slant?
, The slants diagonally forward.
3. How do you think the motion of Willie's train affects his throw?
The motion of Willie’s train makes it harder to throw correctly which makes the slant stronger.
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Trains ● Check that the TRAINS tab is selected.
Question: How does a moving train affect the path of a thrown ball?
1. Explore. Try playing catch with the Gizmo. Use different combinations of Catcher speed, Thrower speed,
and Throw speed.
A. What is the path of the ball when the thrower and catcher are not moving?
The path of the ball goes straight to the catcher.
B. How does the speed of the thrower's train affect the path of the ball?
The speed of the thrower’s train changes the curve of the ball will be thrown.
2. Observe: Set the Catcher speed and Thrower speed to zero. Turn on Show velocity arrows. The
velocity of the ball describes its speed and direction. Click Play and Throw. Try throwing with each
different throw speed: Slow, Medium, and Fast. How does the length of the yellow arrow relate to the
speed of the throw?
The faster the ball went the longer the arrows got.
3. Observe: Set the Thrower speed to Slow and the Throw speed to Slow. Notice the thrower has a red
arrow showing his sideways speed. Click Play, click Throw, and then click Pause. Notice there are now
three arrows coming from the ball.
A. What do you think the blue arrow represents? The direction of the ball would go if it went straig
B. What do you think the red arrow represents? The way the train is moving
C. What do you think the yellow arrow represents? The way the path is moving
4. Experiment. Try different combinations of thrower speed and throw speed.
A. How does the throw speed (blue arrow) affect the ball velocity (yellow arrow)?
It shows how far the ball will move toward the train.
B. How does the thrower velocity (red arrow) affect the ball velocity (yellow arrow)?
Student Exploration: Coriolis Effect
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: Coriolis effect, deflect, frame of reference, high-pressure system, low-pressure system, tropical
cyclone, velocity
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
The diagram shows the prevailing winds on Earth’s surface. The
arrows show the most common wind directions at different latitudes.
1. Look at the winds blowing toward the equator. In which way are
these winds bent, or deflected?
W
e
s
t
2. Look at the winds blowing toward the north and south poles. In
which direction are these winds deflected?
E
a
s
t
Gizmo Warm-up
The deflection of winds on Earth’s surface is called the Coriolis
effect. You will learn what causes this effect by playing catch. Meet
Willie and June, who live near the train station. One of their favorite
things to do is climb on top of the trains and play catch. (Don’t try this
at home!)
In the Coriolis Effect Gizmo, you can see Willie and June playing
catch. Willie is the thrower and June is the catcher. Set the Catcher
speed to Slow.
1. Click Play ( ), and then Throw when the thrower and catcher are lined up. What happens?
The ball gets thrown too far up and they cannot catch up.
2. Click Reset ( ). Turn on Show ball path. Click Play and Throw. Does the ball go straight across in the
direction it is thrown, or at a slant?
, The slants diagonally forward.
3. How do you think the motion of Willie's train affects his throw?
The motion of Willie’s train makes it harder to throw correctly which makes the slant stronger.
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Trains ● Check that the TRAINS tab is selected.
Question: How does a moving train affect the path of a thrown ball?
1. Explore. Try playing catch with the Gizmo. Use different combinations of Catcher speed, Thrower speed,
and Throw speed.
A. What is the path of the ball when the thrower and catcher are not moving?
The path of the ball goes straight to the catcher.
B. How does the speed of the thrower's train affect the path of the ball?
The speed of the thrower’s train changes the curve of the ball will be thrown.
2. Observe: Set the Catcher speed and Thrower speed to zero. Turn on Show velocity arrows. The
velocity of the ball describes its speed and direction. Click Play and Throw. Try throwing with each
different throw speed: Slow, Medium, and Fast. How does the length of the yellow arrow relate to the
speed of the throw?
The faster the ball went the longer the arrows got.
3. Observe: Set the Thrower speed to Slow and the Throw speed to Slow. Notice the thrower has a red
arrow showing his sideways speed. Click Play, click Throw, and then click Pause. Notice there are now
three arrows coming from the ball.
A. What do you think the blue arrow represents? The direction of the ball would go if it went straig
B. What do you think the red arrow represents? The way the train is moving
C. What do you think the yellow arrow represents? The way the path is moving
4. Experiment. Try different combinations of thrower speed and throw speed.
A. How does the throw speed (blue arrow) affect the ball velocity (yellow arrow)?
It shows how far the ball will move toward the train.
B. How does the thrower velocity (red arrow) affect the ball velocity (yellow arrow)?
