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Q14 (IAS/2024) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmospheric pressure winds Official Key

With reference to "Coriolis force", which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. It increases with increase in wind velocity. 2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator. Select the answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C because both statements are correct.

The Coriolis force acting on a body increases with an increase in its velocity.[1] This relationship is also evident from the mathematical formula, where the magnitude (Coriolis force) of the effect is given by 2νω sin ϕ, in which ν is the velocity of the object, ω is the angular velocity of the Earth, and ϕ is the latitude.[2] Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

Regarding statement 2, the Coriolis force is zero at the equator but increases with latitude, reaching a maximum at the poles.[2] This is because at the equator, ϕ = 0° and at the poles, ϕ = 90°[2], and since the force depends on sin ϕ, it becomes zero at the equator (sin 0° = 0) and maximum at the poles (sin 90° = 1). Hence, statement 2 is also correct.

Since both statements accurately describe the characteristics of the Coriolis force, option C (Both 1 and 2) is the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 27: Jet streams > Geostrophic Wind > p. 384
  2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Causes of The Coriolis Effect > p. 309
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to "Coriolis force", which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. It increases with increase in wind velocity. 2…
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Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Return on Investment' question directly from NCERT Class XI, Chapter 9. It proves that despite the hype around dynamic questions, static Climatology remains the backbone. If you missed this, you are neglecting the 'Forces Affecting Wind' section which is fundamental to understanding Cyclones and Jet Streams.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does the magnitude of the Coriolis force increase with increasing wind velocity (i.e., is Coriolis force proportional to wind speed)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Causes of The Coriolis Effect > p. 309
Presence: 5/5
“• The Coriolis effect is related to the motion of the object, the motion of the Earth, and the latitude. For this reason, the magnitude (Coriolis force) of the effect is given by 2νω sin ϕ, in which ν is the velocity of the object, ω is the angular velocity of the Earth, and ϕ is the latitude. At the equator, ϕ = 0° and at the poles, ϕ = 90°. Thus, the Coriolis force is zero at the equator but increases with latitude, reaching a maximum at the poles.”
Why this source?
  • Gives the quantitative expression F_C = 2 ν ω sin φ, where ν is the object's velocity — directly showing proportionality to speed.
  • Explicitly links the Coriolis magnitude to the motion of the object (wind) and latitude, making the velocity dependence central.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 27: Jet streams > Geostrophic Wind > p. 384
Presence: 5/5
“• The Coriolis force acting on a body increases with an increase in its velocity. The winds in the upper atmosphere, 2-3 km above the surface, are free from the frictional effect of the surface and are controlled by the pressure gradient and the Coriolis force. When isobars are straight, and when there is no friction, the pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis force, and the resultant wind blows parallel to the isobar (deflection of the wind is maximum). This wind is known as the geostrophic wind. Why Don't Winds Flow from Tropical High-Pressure (In Upper Troposphere) To Polar Low (In Upper Troposphere) Directly as Shown in The Figure Below?”
Why this source?
  • Plainly states that the Coriolis force acting on a body increases with an increase in its velocity.
  • Applies this to fast upper‑air winds (jet streams), showing practical cases where higher speeds produce larger Coriolis effects.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > UPSC Prelims 2011] Which one of the following weather conditions is indicated by a sudden fall in barometer reading? > p. 308
Presence: 4/5
“• Due to the earth's rotation, winds do not cross the isobars at right angles as the pressure gradient force directs but get deflected from their original path. This deviation is the result of the earth's rotation and is called the Coriolis effect. Due to this effect, winds in the northern hemisphere get deflected to the right of their path and those in the southern hemisphere to their left (Farrell's Law). This deflection force does not seem to exist until the air is set in motion and increases with wind velocity and an increase in latitude.”
Why this source?
  • States the deflection (Coriolis effect) increases with wind velocity and with latitude.
  • Connects increased pressure gradient → higher wind speed → larger deflection, reinforcing the speed dependence.
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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Which of the following statements with reference to Coriolis force is/are correct ? 1. Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the pressure gradient force 2. At the equator, the Coriolis force is zero and the wind blows perpendicular to the isobars Select the answer using the code given below :

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CDS-I · 2012 · Q72 Relevance score: 3.48

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NDA-II · 2018 · Q6 Relevance score: 1.78

Statement I : Geostrophic wind blows above a height of 600 meters, parallel to the isobars Statement I : Geostrophic wind is the horizontal wind velocity, in which the coriolis force balances the horizontal pressure force.