A current of speed is released with no wind and no pressure gradient at latitude

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Mechanics & Dynamical Systems · Fluids & Continuum Physics · Rotation, rigid bodies and accelerated frames

Signal Speeds in Fluids, Ch Waves in a rotating fluid: inertial, Poincare and Kelvin waves

Problem

A current of speed U=0.30 m s−1U=0.30\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}} is released with no wind and no pressure gradient at latitude 40∘N40^\circ\mathrm N. Someone argues: "the Coriolis force does no work on a fluid parcel, since it is always perpendicular to the velocity. With no pressure gradient and no friction, there is then no force at all doing anything useful to the parcel's path, so by Newton's first law it simply carries on in a straight line at 0.30 m s−10.30\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}} forever." ((a)) Find the error in this argument. ((b)) Find the actual radius and period of the parcel's path.

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