Earlier in this class you learned about the Coriolis force.Given your knowledge of this force and Jupiter,which of these statements is most accurate?
A)The Coriolis force is the same on Jupiter as on Earth.
B)The Coriolis force is much weaker on Jupiter than on Earth because of the strong gravity on Jupiter.
C)The Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth because Jupiter rotates more slowly than Earth and is much larger than Earth.
D)The Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth because it rotates more than twice as fast as Earth and it is much larger than Earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Coriolis force is proportional to the rotation speed and size of the planet. Jupiter rotates more than twice as fast as Earth and is much larger than Earth, so the Coriolis force is much stronger on Jupiter than on Earth. Option A is incorrect because the force depends on the planet's size and rotation rate, which are different for Earth and Jupiter. Option B is incorrect because the Coriolis force is not affected by gravity. Option C is also incorrect because although Jupiter is larger than Earth, it rotates more slowly, which reduces the strength of the Coriolis force.

Earlier in This Class You Learned About the Coriolis Force