# Magnitude of Coriolis force given an east-west velocity

I'm trying to make sure I understand how the Coriolis effect works for velocity vectors that are not purely north-south (with regard to the surface of the earth). So consider an eastbound (again with regard to the surface of the earth) object at some fixed speed $s$. Its velocity vector $\vec{v}$ has no poleward component, so is perpendicular to the earth's angular velocity vector $\vec{\omega}$, and therefore the angle between them is $\pi/2$. It follows that, independent of the latitude of the object, the magnitude of the Coriolis force is constant, at $2ms||\vec{\omega}||$. Is that true -- that the Coriolis effect for an east-west bound object is independent of the object's latitude? (related: this answer)

The answer is yes, in the sense that the magnitude of the force doesn't change for an east/westward bound object with constant speed $\vec{v}$ (although the direction certainly does).

You can verify it by creating a spherical coordinate system with coordinates "east", "north", and "up", noting the angular velocity $\vec{\omega}$ points "up", and using the Coriolis formula $\vec{F} = 2m\vec{\omega}\times\vec{v}$ for any velocity pointing "east".

This is as a result of the fact, when approximating the Earth as a sphere, the "east" coordinate is always perpendicular to the angular velocity vector of the Earth $\vec{\omega}$ (which points "up"), unlike the "north" coordinate. (You've all pointed this out as well; just confirming it's valid.)

First, it's not the Earth's angular momentum that matters, it's the angular velocity, $\vec{\omega}$.

The Coriolis Force for a mass $m$ moving with velocity $\vec v$ is:

$$\vec F = -2m\vec{\omega} \times \vec v$$

So that is independent of latitude, longitude, and altitude. Of course, at different latitudes, the resulting force has different direction relative to the local vertical. Likewise for $\vec v$, which has different local interpretations as you move it around the globe.

• Thanks. Yes, I meant angular velocity. But beyond that, please tell me in more detail how this answer addresses my question. I realize that the formula for the Coriolis force is independent of location, but my question was whether the magnitude of the force is independent of location for east-west aligned velocities (as it surely is not for north-south aligned velocities). Jul 14, 2018 at 23:32