======Coriolis Effect Balloon======


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**Alternative titles:** Earth’s Rotation and Deflection Demonstration
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Inflate a balloon and mark the equator around its middle. Label the top as the North Pole and the knot as the South Pole.  
  - Hold the balloon at eye level and rotate it left to right to represent Earth’s rotation.  
  - One partner observes the motion from the North Pole and then the South Pole to see the apparent spin direction.  
  - While one partner rotates the balloon steadily, the other attempts to draw a straight line from the North Pole to the equator.  
  - Repeat the process by drawing from the South Pole to the equator.  
  - Observe that the lines curve instead of being straight, demonstrating the Coriolis effect.  
  - Discuss how the direction of the curve depends on the hemisphere.



====Links==== 
Coriolis Effect Balloon - JANE DELONG: 
{{youtube>qpiZ8jx1PSM?}}\\

Balloon Demonstration of Coriolis Effect - Earth Science Explained: 
{{youtube>pGCxzbgomNE?}}\\

📄 Modeling the Coriolis Effect - Carolina: [[https://www.carolina.com/teacher-resources/Interactive/modeling-the-coriolis-effect/tr10643.tr?srsltid=AfmBOoqgP2rFVKs-bSE8UNuEOLOuyG7kGyGa182bCxqaUEk_9OAp1alH]]\\


====Variations====
  * Change the balloon’s rotation speed to see how faster or slower spin affects the amount of deflection.  
  * Use a merry-go-round or turntable with marbles to create a larger-scale rotating system model.  
  * Compare the results with real-world maps of prevailing winds, hurricanes, or ocean currents. 



====Safety Precautions====
  * Handle permanent markers carefully to avoid staining clothing or skin.  
  * Do not overinflate balloons to prevent bursting.  
  * Use caution with rotating platforms like merry-go-rounds; supervise students closely.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why do the drawn lines curve instead of staying straight? (Because Earth’s rotation causes moving objects to appear deflected relative to the surface beneath them.)  
  * How does the direction of deflection differ between the northern and southern hemispheres? (Objects curve to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.)  
  * Why does Los Angeles travel farther in a day than Anchorage, even though both complete one rotation? (Because it is at a lower latitude and moves faster due to Earth’s larger circumference there.)  
  * How does the Coriolis effect influence hurricanes and ocean currents? (It helps determine their rotation direction and large-scale movement patterns.)