This small group activity is designed to help upper division undergraduate students determine which way the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations point. Students use their small whiteboards to calculate the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations, and discuss with their neighbors which way these accelerations point. The whole class wrap-up discussion includes the derivation the students had been asked to complete, aiding students in determining which way the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations point.

This material is part of the Paradigms in Physics project at Oregon State University. This work promotes the use of active student learning in upper division physics courses. Both learning materials and learning strategies are provided to help both students and instructors.