1. What is the Coriolis Effect?
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The Coriolis Effect is how Earth’s rotation makes moving things (like air and water) curve instead of going straight.
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Imagine Earth as a big spinning ball. Because it spins, things don’t move in a straight line across it.
2. How It Works
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Earth rotates from west to east.
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If you throw a ball straight north or south on a spinning Earth:
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It looks like the ball curves instead of going straight.
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This same thing happens with wind and ocean currents.
3. Direction of the Curve
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In the Northern Hemisphere (above the equator): things curve to the right.
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In the Southern Hemisphere (below the equator): things curve to the left.
4. Why It’s Important
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The Coriolis Effect shapes wind patterns around Earth.
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It causes big storm systems (like hurricanes and cyclones) to spin in different directions:
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Counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
🌪️🌍 Now let’s connect cyclones and the Coriolis Effect
1. What is a Cyclone?
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A cyclone is a huge storm with strong winds and heavy rain.
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It forms over warm ocean water.
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Warm water evaporates → air rises → low pressure forms → surrounding air rushes in.
2. How the Coriolis Effect Changes It
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As air moves toward the low-pressure center, the Coriolis Effect makes it curve instead of going straight.
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This curving air makes the storm spin.
3. Direction of Spin (because of Coriolis Effect)
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Northern Hemisphere → cyclones spin counterclockwise.
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Southern Hemisphere → cyclones spin clockwise.
4. Why It Matters
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Without Earth’s rotation (and the Coriolis Effect), air would just flow straight into the storm center.
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With rotation, cyclones get their spiral shape and strong circular winds.
✨ In short (for Grade 6):
Cyclones form when warm ocean air rises and more air rushes in. The Coriolis Effect (Earth’s spin) makes the air curve, so the cyclone starts spinning — counterclockwise in the north and clockwise in the south.
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