Does the Coriolis force affect which way water goes down the bath plug?

Robert Zbodak, Windsor

No. The Coriolis force (a twisting force caused by the Earth's rotation) causes tornados and hurricanes, but on a smaller scale its effects are negligible. It is commonly believed that water goes one way down the plughole in the northern hemisphere, and the other in the southern hemisphere, but this is not true. Factors such as movement in the water and the way the plug is removed have a far greater effect.

Submitted by Len Fisher

water down the drain

Sat, 2010-09-25 10:10
sam pugh

not only the effect of how the plug is taken out of the plug hole but also if the bath has been leveled side ways and lenghtways would effect the way the water goes out of the plug hole