MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: Does the earth's rotation affect the trajectory of a missile?

Date: Tue Feb 2 14:14:45 1999
Posted by Rich Shannon
Grade level: grad (non-science)
School: University of Florida
City: Orlando State/Province: FL
Country: USA
Area of science: Physics
ID: 917986485.Ph
Message:

If a missile was fired from Point A (on the equator) to Point B 
(a target on the same longitude due north of Point A but south 
of the north pole, does the missile need to be aimed to a point 
east of the target to compensate for the earth's rotation from 
west to east?  What if Point A was in the southern hemisphere 
and point B was in the northern hemisphere both on the same 
longitude and equidistant from the equator?  Does there need to 
be any compensation for rotation?  I think we need to assume 
that there is no air friction as we would in theoretical physics.


Re: Does the earth's rotation affect the trajectory of a missile?

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