Peter Hayes wrote:
JPG wrote:

On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:04:18 GMT, Joe Leo wrote:

I always thought that the Coriolis Effect made water go down the drain
counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. But, it's not true:



See also:

http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadCoriolis.html


Another urban myth, I'm afraid.

But isn't the Coriolis effect responsible for uneven wear on north/south
railway lines, with the more easterly rail wearing more, since the
locomotive is being pushed in that direction. Or is that anothe urban
myth?

--

Peter

It doesn't make any difference which way the railway is
aligned; the right-hand rail is always more affected but the amount is
negligible. The force for a train travelling at the routine 125 mph is
0.0006 times the weight. This is the same as travelling at that speed
round a left-hand curve of about 140 miles radius. Not exactly a
hairpin bend, even for a railway. The effect of a moderate side wind
would be at least an order of magnitude greater, as would a few extra
passengers on the right-hand side of the carriage. There may have been
a difference in the wear in steam days because the right-hand cylinder
always leads the left-hand one. (Not applicable to Streaks, Spams and
Jubes, as they have 3 cylinders).

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.