Science
What is The Coriolis effect?
The Coriolis effect is the way Earth's rotation bends the path of moving things like wind and ocean currents. Instead of traveling straight, they curve — to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern — shaping weather systems and hurricanes.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the coriolis effect.
Key things to understand
- 1Earth's rotation deflects moving air and water.
- 2Paths curve right in the north, left in the south.
- 3It shapes wind patterns, currents, and storms.
- 4It's why hurricanes spin in opposite directions by hemisphere.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Coriolis effect?
- The bending of the path of moving objects, like wind and water, caused by Earth's rotation.
- Which way does the Coriolis effect deflect things?
- To the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Does the Coriolis effect really control which way toilets drain?
- No — that's a myth; the effect is far too weak at such small scales to control a draining sink.