Question

R3: The base point for this question is 1 point. For choice A, B, C, select one to explain why it is correct or not. You can submit explanation for up to two of them, and receive up to 2 points, i.e., 1 bonus point.

Q3. If the Earth rotate from east to west, which of the following statement is true? A. Freely moving object (e.g., rocket) will deflect to the left in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the right in the Southern Hemisphere. B. The ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere will trend to the right, and Southern Hemisphere currents will trend to the left. C. Water in a Northern Hemisphere sink will drain counterclockwise and that in a Southern Hemisphere will drain clockwise. D. All the above are correct. E. None of the above is correct.

Answer 1

B. The ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere will trend to the right, and Southern Hemisphere currents will trend to the left.

It is due to the Coriolis force and because of this force, in the Northern Hemisphere, the moving objects deflect to the right of their intended path and deflects to the left of their intended path in the Southern Hemisphere. Also, due to this Coriolis force water moving down a sink will drain creating a vortex. This vortex will be clockwise in a Northern Hemisphere sink and counterclockwise in a Southern Hemisphere sink.