ESS227
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Fundamental and Apparent Forces
•Newton’s
second law of motion states that the rate of change of momentum (i.e., the acceleration) of an object, as measured relative to
coordinates fixed in space, equals the sum of all the forces acting.
•For
atmospheric motions of meteorological interest, the forces that are of primary
concern are the pressure
gradient force, the gravitational force, and friction. These are the fundamental
forces.
•For
a coordinate system rotating with the earth, Newton’s second law may still be
applied provided that certain apparent forces,
the centrifugal force and the Coriolis force, are included among the forces acting.
Fundamental force -
Apparent force -
Gravitational force
Pressure gradient force
Frictional force
Coriolis force
Centrifugal force
