Urban Legends

The Coriolis Force

Behind the Legend

For reasons too impossibly complex for a non-specialist to fathom, the middle of the Earth (sometimes called the "equator") moves faster than its top and bottom (the "poles"). This means that things near the equator (e.g. Egypt) will move faster than things farther away from the equator (e.g. penguins). This in turn means that if something is lying perpendicular to the equator, its bottom will move more quickly than its top, making it rotate. This is nicely explained (in layman's terms) in Chubby Checker's song, "The Twist."

Because Coriolis force, like gravity, is caused by a planet, it is mighty strong. Even so, it can not make clocks and watches (more specifically, ones with dials) run faster or slower unless they are held parallel to the ground so that there is a significant difference between the speed of their near-equator and far-equator edges.

Even so, this force does influence the world around us quite significantly, even if it doesn't bother watches all that much. For example, Coriolis force:

• Makes tornados rotate one way in one hemisphere and the other way in the other hemisphere (the actual direction of rotation is a matter of scientific debate).
• Makes water run down the toilet drain in the northern hemisphere, but up over the edge of the basin in the southern hemisphere.
• Explains the north vs. south nature of the split between left-leaning and right-leaning political opinions in the United States, particularly prior to the Civil War.
• Makes it necessary for American roulette wheels to have one more number than their European counterparts.
• Forces people in England and some other countries to drive on the wrong side of the road.

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