= Coriolis deflection of vertical launch and drop
{c}
{title2=$x_{\rm launch}=-4\Omega u^3\cos\lambda/(3g^2),\quad x_{\rm drop}=-x_{\rm launch}/4$}
At first order in <Earth>'s rotation, vertical <velocity> gives east <acceleration> $-2\Omega\cos\lambda\,\dot z$. A launch returning to its initial height lands westward, while a drop from the launch's maximum height lands eastward with one quarter the displacement magnitude. These results assume constant effective gravity, no air <drag> and no horizontal <velocity> in the Coriolis term. The northern component vanishes at this order.
Back to article page
