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No trip to the equator is complete without a real-life demonstration of this phenomenon.
Tourists watch as their guide shows them water swirling out in one direction, and when they step over the equator, it goes out the other, and as people say. seeing is believing. Or is it?
It is true that the Coriolis force works slowly and takes its time, but it is thought that it turns storms in the northern hemisphere clockwise, and turns storms in the Southern Hemisphere anticlockwise. As a result, many people believe that, due to the Coriolis force, that water goes down the plughole in Australia anticlockwise, and in London, clockwise.
This is not true. Water does swirl as it goes down the plughole, but the real influences are where the plughole and tap are positioned.
Storms being whirled around by the Coriolis force and water going down plugholes are completely unrelated.
No matter where you are, it can go either way.
Partly quoted from Actually Factually by Guy Campbell
What else can I help you with?
Why does water flow down a drain the opposite direction in the Southern hemisphere?
Water flows in both directions regardless of hemisphere. In Physics, there is the Coriolis Effect that describes the flow/movement of water due to a variety of factors, and this is sometimes used to add validity to the myth, but the Coriolis Effect does not occur in small bodies of water such as a sink or toilet. The direction of water flow in a a sink or toilet depends on the direction that the water flows into the sink or toilet -- regardless of hemisphere. You can test this yourself by pouring a pitcher of water from the left side of a sink and then from the right side, you will see that the water will flow accordingly -- this experiment will have the same result in Sydney, Australia as it will in London, England.
Does water in toilets in Australia flow in the opposite direction than in Kentucky?
Although the Coriolis Effect would tend to influence an opposite direction of flow, the actual effect is immeasurably small on the scale of household plumbing. Other, mostly random factors mean that the flow could be in either direction, or alternately in both.
In what direction does water moves?
the cold water moves down.
What does a water vane measure?
direction of flow
Which way does water go down a drain counter- or clokwise?
The direction water goes down a drain is influenced by various factors such as the shape of the drainage system and turbulence in the water. The Coriolis effect, which influences large-scale weather patterns, is not strong enough to determine the direction water flows down a drain. Thus, it is not accurate to say water will consistently flow in a specific direction based on this effect.
What is The path a river follows is called?
The direction that a river flows is called the flow or the drainages. Water generally flows downhill or from a higher elevation to a lower one.
What direction does water flow in a radiator?
from the top to the bottom
What direction does water in the Great Lakes Flow?
South
What is cuurrent?
Not sure what a suface cuurrent is. In deep water, there often are currents that flow in different directions at different depths. A surface current will flow in one direction, near the surface, while there will be a current flowing in the opposite direction deeper down.
Does the direction of flow of the toilet change in different regions of the earth?
The direction of the flow in a toilet is determined by the design of the bowl and the direction of the water jets, rather than the Earth's rotation. Factors like the shape of the bowl and water flow patterns can influence the direction of the flow, not the location on Earth. The Coriolis effect, which impacts large-scale weather systems, is not significant enough to affect the direction of water flow in a small space like a toilet bowl.
What is suface cuurrent?
Not sure what a suface cuurrent is. In deep water, there often are currents that flow in different directions at different depths. A surface current will flow in one direction, near the surface, while there will be a current flowing in the opposite direction deeper down.
Why all rivers flow in one direction?
Actually many rivers run north in North America. Water has no sense of direction. If flows downhill by gravity. Most rivers east of the Rocky Mountains do flow in a southerly direction because the elevation is lower to the south and they are flowing toward the Gulf of Mexico. Source: Riverlorian.com
