RE: Which way do they fly Down Under?
There is a few things that are wrong with the idea of the Coriolis effect being responsible for making people on the northern hemisphere turn anti-clockwise. For example, the effect only acts on the velocity component that is perpendicular to the equator. Lets first assume that the effect is large enough to be noticeable (and it would be on a smaller planet) what would we then actually see?
- we usually take off with the sun in the back (if the wind permits) e.g. going from east to west. Then there is no influence...
Same thing happens when going from west to the east, there is no effect.
- if we take off from the south heading north, then the plane will appear to be turning to the right and would favour a clockwise turn...
- if we take off from the north heading south, then the plane will appear to be turning to the right and would favour a clockwise turn...
So it seems we are all actually fighting against the Coriolis effect when turning anti-clockwise on the northern hemisphere. [X(]
(The water in the sink will do the same thing but because it is a liquid that is being drained, then this will create an anti-clock wise turning vortex, at least that's how I see it...)