What roles do Earth’s rotation, Coriolis and Eötvös play?
We observe movement from Earth, and our observation point rotates with it. Viewed this way, paths can appear different from those seen by an observer who is not rotating with Earth. One associated effect is called the Coriolis effect. It is not wind and is not caused by the bullet’s spin.
We observe movement from Earth, and our observation point rotates with it. Viewed this way, paths can appear different from those seen by an observer who is not rotating with Earth. One associated effect is called the Coriolis effect. It is not wind and is not caused by the bullet’s spin.
The idea that the target simply rotates away beneath the bullet is incomplete. Shooter, target and bullet already share Earth’s motion before the shot. What matters is the subsequent movement within this rotating frame. There is therefore no identical sideways displacement everywhere.
The Eötvös effect concerns apparent gravity during motion on the rotating Earth. It is particularly described for motion with an east–west component. Specialist software may name or combine these rotational effects differently. They are not fixed universal corrections. Wind and spin drift caused by projectile rotation have separate causes. One unusual hit therefore does not prove an influence from Earth’s rotation.