The key difference between Coriolis force and pressure gradient force is that Coriolis force acts to the right and perpendicular to the wind direction, whereas pressure gradient force acts towards low-pressure perpendicular to the lines of constant height.
Coriolis force is an inertial or fictitious force that can act on objects in movement within the frame of a reference that is rotating with respect to an inertial frame. Pressure gradient force is the force that is created when there is a difference in the pressure across a surface.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Coriolis Force
3. What is Pressure Gradient Force
4. Coriolis Force vs Pressure Gradient Force in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Coriolis Force vs Pressure Gradient Force
What is Coriolis Force?
Coriolis force is an inertial or fictitious force that can act on objects in movement within the frame of a reference that is rotating with respect to an inertial frame. When considering a reference frame that is rotating in the clockwise direction, the force tends to act to the left of the motion of the object. Similarly, in a reference frame with anticlockwise rotation, the force tends to act to the right.
Moreover, the Coriolis effect is the term used to name the deflection of an object that occurs due to the Coriolis force. This force was studied by the French scientist Gaspard-Gustave de Coriolis in 1835. It was published by him in connection to the theory of water wheels. In the early 20th century, scientists used this term in connection to meteorology.
Coriolis force or Coriolis effect can be commonly used in the rotating reference frame almost always implied for the Earth. For example, the Earth spins, and the Earth-bound observers require accounting for the Coriolis force in order to correctly analyze the motion of objects.
What is Pressure Gradient Force?
Pressure gradient force is the force that occurs when there is a difference in the pressure across a surface. Generally, pressure can be described as a force per unit area across a surface. In other words, a difference in pressure across a surface, which is then implied at a difference in force, can result in an acceleration that depends on Newton’s second law of motion when there is no additional force to balance it.
Typically, the resulting force is always directed from the region of higher pressure to the region of low pressure. We call a system consisting of a fluid that is in an equilibrium state hydrostatic equilibrium. When considering atmospheres, balancing pressure-gradient force can be done by gravitational force, maintaining a hydrostatic equilibrium.
What is the Difference Between Coriolis Force and Pressure Gradient Force?
Coriolis force is an inertial or fictitious force that can act on objects in movement within the frame of a reference that is rotating with respect to an inertial frame. Whereas, pressure gradient force is the force that tends to occur when there is a difference in the pressure across a surface. Moreover, the key difference between Coriolis force and pressure gradient force is that Coriolis force acts to the right and perpendicular to the wind direction, whereas pressure gradient force acts towards low-pressure perpendicular to the lines of constant height.
The below infographic presents the differences between Coriolis force and pressure gradient force in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Coriolis Force vs Pressure Gradient Force
Coriolis force and pressure gradient force act in opposite directions and are of equal magnitude. The key difference between Coriolis force and pressure gradient force is that Coriolis force acts to the right and perpendicular to the wind direction, whereas pressure gradient force acts towards low-pressure perpendicular to the lines of constant height.
Reference:
1. Ackerman, Steve. “Magnitude and Direction of Forces.” Suomi Virtual Museum.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Coriolis effect10” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Corioliskraftanimation” By Hubi – German Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia