Quick Answer: The Coriolis Force Apparatus is a bench base unit with a rotating arm that carries a transparent water tank and a counterbalance. A submersible pump in the tank produces a jet of water that deflects when the arm rotates.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Rotating arm carrying a transparent water tank and counterbalance
Submersible pump in the tank produces a water jet
Dials and a digital display to set the speed and direction of rotation
Pump rate adjustable from the base unit
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Base
Bench base unit
Rotating parts
Arm with transparent water tank and counterbalance
Pump
Submersible, produces a water jet
Controls
Dials and digital display: speed, direction of rotation, pump rate
About This Product
The bending of the jet makes the Coriolis force visible: a fictitious force that appears to act on objects moving within a rotating frame of reference. Changing the speed and direction of rotation and the pump rate lets students see how each one alters the deflection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the water jet bend in the Coriolis Force Apparatus?
The deflection is due to the Coriolis force, which appears to act on objects moving within a rotating frame of reference, here the turning arm and tank.
