With reference to “Coriolis force”, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. It increases with increase in wind velocity. 2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator. Select the answer using the code given below :
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Coriolis force is directly proportional to the velocity of the moving object (in this case, wind). This means that as wind speed increases, the deflecting effect of the Coriolis force also increases. Statement 2 is correct: The Coriolis force is also directly proportional to the sine of the latitude. At the equator (0° latitude), the sine of 0° is 0, so the Coriolis force is zero. At the poles (90° latitude), the sine of 90° is 1, making the Coriolis force maximum. Both statements accurately describe the characteristics and behavior of the Coriolis force, which is a crucial concept in understanding atmospheric and oceanic circulation. This topic is fundamental to physical geography in the UPSC syllabus.