What about when you drain a bathtub, or when water drains out of a hole in a
bucket, or other basin? The whirlpool created is always counter-clockwise,
as are tornados and hurricanes in the northern hemisphere. Also,
limnological studies have shown that in larger lakes, waves will be
deflected at a 45-degree angle to the wind.
As far as whether it affects small stuff? Well, you can stand an egg on its
end on the equator, as well as anywhere in the world during the vernal and
autumnal equinoxes (equinoxii?). Hmmm, wonder if you could get reverse
rotation out of a whirlpool during the equinox? Anyway, I would be
interested in those studies. Do you have a source for them?
-----Original Message-----
From: Shaun.Hendricks@bergenbrunswig.com
<Shaun.Hendricks@bergenbrunswig.com>
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Date: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 11:16 AM
Subject: DML: RE:DML TB Spacers
>
> I had heard this too (but not with the $64 word: geostropic) but it has
>since been proven false. Standing water drained through a central "hole"
>tends to follow the direction of the "polish" or finish on the surface of
the
>basin it is in. This has a much more dramatic effect than the direction
the
>earth turns (believe it or not, the water is turning at the same speed as
the
>planet and when the basin is leveled and oriented (if not a perfect circle)
>correctly, the vortext can turn either way when the water drains through a
>central hole). Two studies I know of were done on this effect. It ended
up
>that when all things are equal, chaos theory takes over and the vortex goes
>whatever way it wants to. If it conisistently goes one direction, there is
>something in the process that is forcing it to, and it's not planetary
>rotation.
> I do believe on a MUCH larger scale you are totally correct. The Oceans
>and Atmosphere are directly impacted by the rotation of the earth and they
are
>opposites between the northern and southern hemisphere. In a small basin
it's
>just not enough of a factor to worry about.
> Now, to the theory that whirling air "sucks" more of itself down the TB,
>rule of thumb, there's no such thing as a free lunch. A tornado requires
>tremendous energy to keep itself maintained. If it generated it's own
energy,
>these things would spawn and never die. The closest thing you can get to
>additional energy is a venturi. Vortex's are energy wasters, (aeronautical
>engineers try to eliminate them on aircraft as they increase drag) whereas
>venturi's are energy modifiers, they accellerate the air. This is still no
>free lunch but faster moving air impacts a stationary object (in this case,
>the pistons) harder and can increase your psi (compression ration)
slightly,
>very slightly. You want to generate a venturi at the TB not a vortex.
>
>Shaun H.
>
>---original message---
>Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 19:11:39 -0600
>From: mrdancer <mrdancer@camalott.com>
>Subject: DML: Re: TB Spacers
>
>You ever notice how when you flush the toilet, the water goes down in a
>counter-clockwise direction? This is due to geostrophic forces (Coriolis
>effect) created by the earth's rotation. Actually, all whirlpools in the
>northern hemisphere rotate counter-clockwise and the toilet manufacturers
>made use of this knowledge and directed their flushing jets in the same
>general direction (consequently, South American toilets won't work very
well
>up here). The water's rotation helps "suck" it down the toilet hole.
>
>Anyway, my point is, whoever designs this helix had better make sure it
>directs air in a counter-clockwise rotation (same goes for that
>'tornado-air' thingy). And for you people south of the equator, don't buy
>one of these unless is was manufactured specifically for your locale,
i.e. -
>clockwise direction. Otherwise, you will be restricting your airflow.
>
>Sorry, just rambling........
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