Coriolis Acceleration:

It has been seen that the acceleration of a body may have two components.
• Centripetal acceleration and
• Tangential acceleration.

However, in same cases there will be a third component called as corilis

acceleration to illustrate this let us take an example of crank and slotted lever
mechanisms.
P P1

2 B2
Q B1

B on link 3 d

3 A1

A on link 2
d 2

Assume link 2 having constant angular velocity 2, in its motions from OP to
OP1 in a small interval of time t. During this time slider 3 moves outwards from
position B to B2. Assume this motion also to have constant velocity VB/A. Consider the
motion of slider from B to B2 in 3 stages.
1. B to A1 due to rotation of link 2.
2. A1 to B1 due to outward velocity of slider VB/A.
3. B1 to B2 due to acceleration ⊥r to link 2 this component in the coriolis
component of acceleration.

We have Arc B1B2 = Arc QB2 – Arc QB1

= Arc QB2 – Arc AA1
 Arc B1B2 = OQ d - AO d
= A1B1 d
= VB/A 2dt2

39
The tangential component of velocity is ⊥r to the link and is given by Vt = r. In this
case  has been assumed constant and the slider is moving on the link with constant
velocity. Therefore, tangential velocity of any point B on the slider 3 will result in
uniform increase in tangential velocity. The equation Vt = r remain same but r
increases uniformly i.e. there is a constant acceleration ⊥r to rod.

 Displacement B1B2 = ½ at2

= ½ f (dt)2
 ½ f (dt)2 = VB/A 2 dt2
acrB/A = 22 VB/A coriolis acceleration

The direction of coriolis component is the direction of relative velocity vector

for the two coincident points rotated at 90o in the direction of angular velocity of
rotation of the link.

Figure below shows the direction of coriolis acceleration in different situation.

fcr

2
2
2

fcr
(a) Rotation CW slider (b) Rotation CW slider
moving up moving down
fcr

2 2

fcr
(c) Rotation CCW slider (d) Rotation CCW slider
moving up moving down

40
 Example 8.13. A mechanism of a crank and slotted lever quick
return motion is shown in Fig. 8.28. If the crank rotates counter clockwise
at 120 r.p.m., determine for the configuration shown, the velocity and
acceleration of the ram D. Also determine the angular acceleration of
the slotted lever.
Crank, AB = 150 mm ; Slotted arm, OC = 700 mm and link
CD = 200 mm.
Solution. Given : N BA = 120 r.p.m or ωBA = 2 π × 120/60
= 12.57 rad/s ; A B = 150 mm = 0.15 m; OC = 700 mm = 0.7 m;
CD = 200 mm = 0.2 m
We know that velocity of B with respect to A ,
vBA = ωBA × AB
= 12.57 × 0.15 = 1.9 m/s
...(Perpendicular to A B)
Velocity of the ram D
Fig. 8.28
First of all draw the space diagram, to some suitable scale, as
shown in Fig. 8.29 (a). Now the velocity diagram, as shown in Fig. 8.29
(b), is drawn as discussed below:
1. Since O and A are fixed points, therefore these points are marked as one point in velocity
diagram. Now draw vector ab in a direction perpendicular to A B , to some suitable scale, to represent
the velocity of slider B with respect to A i.e.vBA, such that
vector ab = v BA = 1.9 m/s

(a) Space diagram. (b) Velocity diagram.

(c) Direction of coriolis component. (d) Acceleration diagram.

Fig. 8.29
2. From point o, draw vector ob' perpendicular to OB' to represent the velocity of coincident
point B' (on the link OC) with respect to O i.e. v B′O and from point b draw vector bb' parallel to the
path of motion of B' (which is along the link OC) to represent the velocity of coincident point B' with
respect to the slider B i.e. vB'B. The vectors ob' and bb' intersect at b'.
Note: Since we have to find the coriolis component of acceleration of the slider B with respect to the coincident
point B', therefore we require the velocity of B with respect to B' i.e. vBB'. The vector b'b will represent vBB'
as shown in Fig. 8.29 (b).
3. Since the point C lies on OB' produced, therefore, divide vector ob' at c in the same ratio
as C divides OB' in the space diagram. In other words,
ob′ / oc = OB ′ / OC
The vector oc represents the velocity of C with respect to O i.e. vCO.
 4. Now from point c, draw vector cd perpendicular to CD to represent the velocity of D with
respect to C i.e. vDC ,and from point o draw vector od parallel to the path of motion of D (which is
along the horizontal) to represent the velocity of D i.e. vD.The vectors cd and od intersect at d.
By measurement, we find that velocity of the ram D,
v D = vector od = 2.15 m/s Ans.
From velocity diagram, we also find that
Velocity of B with respect to B',
v BB' = vector b'b = 1.05 m/s
Velocity of D with respect to C,
v DC = vector cd = 0.45 m/s
Velocity of B' with respect to O
v B′O = vector ob' = 1.55 m/s
Velocity of C with respect to O,
v CO = vector oc = 2.15 m/s
∴ Angular velocity of the link OC or OB',
vCO 2.15
ωCO = ωB′O = = = 3.07 rad/s (Anticlockwise)
OC 0.7
Acceleration of the ram D
We know that radial component of the acceleration of B with respect to A ,
r
aBA = ω2BA × AB = (12.57)2 × 0.15 = 23.7 m/s2
Coriolis component of the acceleration of slider B with respect to the coincident point B',
c
aBB ′ = 2ω.v = 2ωCO .vBB′ = 2 × 3.07 × 1.05 = 6.45 m/s 2
...(3 ω = ωCO and v = vBB′)
Radial component of the acceleration of D with respect to C,
2
vDC (0.45)2
r
aDC = = = 1.01 m/s 2
CD 0.2
Radial component of the acceleration of the coincident point B' with respect to O,
vB2 ′O (1.55)2
aBr ′O = = = 4.62 m/s2 ...(By measurement B'O = 0.52 m)
B ′O 0.52
Now the acceleration diagram, as shown in Fig. 8.29 (d), is drawn as discussed below:
1. Since O and A are fixed points, therefore these points are marked as one point in the
acceleration diagram. Draw vector a'b' parallel to A B, to some suitable scale, to represent the radial
r
component of the acceleration of B with respect to A i.e. aBA or aB, such that
r
vector a ′b′ = aBA = aB = 23.7 m/s 2
2. The acceleration of the slider B with respect to the coincident point B' has the following
two components :
c
(i) Coriolis component of the acceleration of B with respect to B' i.e. aBB′ , and
r
(ii) Radial component of the acceleration of B with respect to B' i.e. aBB′.
These two components are mutually perpendicular. Therefore from point b' draw vector b'x
c 2
perpendicular to B'O i.e. in a direction as shown in Fig. 8.29 (c) to represent aBB′ = 6.45 m/s . The
 l Theory of Machines
c
direction of aBB′ is obtained by rotating v BB′ (represented by vector b'b in velocity diagram) through
90° in the same sense as that of link OC which rotates in the counter clockwise direction. Now from
r
point x, draw vector xb'' perpendicular to vector b'x (or parallel to B'O) to represent aBB ′ whose
magnitude is yet unknown.
3. The acceleration of the coincident point B' with respect to O has also the following two
components:
(i) Radial component of the acceleration of coincident point B' with respect to O i.e.
aBr ′O’ and
(ii) Tangential component of the acceleration of coincident point B' with respect to O,
i.e. aBt ′O .
These two components are mutually perpendicular. Therefore from point o', draw vector o'y
parallel to B'O to represent aBr ′O = 4.62 m/s 2 and from point y draw vector yb'' perpendicular to
vector o'y to represent aBt ′O . The vectors xb'' and yb'' intersect at b''. Join o'b''. The vector o'b''
represents the acceleration of B' with respect to O, i.e. aB′O.
4. Since the point C lies on OB' produced, therefore divide vector o'b'' at c' in the same ratio
as C divides OB' in the space diagram. In other words,
o'b''/o'c' = OB'/OC
5. The acceleration of the ram D with respect to C has also the following two components:
r
(i) Radial component of the acceleration of D with respect to C i.e. aDC , and
t
(ii) Tangential component of the acceleration of D with respect to C, i.e. aDC .
The two components are mutually perpendicular. Therefore draw vector c'z parallel to CD
r
to represent aDC = 1.01 m/s 2 and from z draw zd' perpendicular to vector zc' to represent aDC
t
, whose
magnitude is yet unknown.
6. From point o', draw vector o'd' in the direction of motion of the ram D which is along the
horizontal. The vectors zd' and o'd' intersect at d'. The vector o'd' represents the acceleration of ram
D i.e. aD.
By measurement, we find that acceleration of the ram D,
aD = vector o'd' = 8.4 m/s2 Ans.
Angular acceleration of the slotted lever
By measurement from acceleration diagram, we find that tangential component of the
coincident point B' with respect to O,
aBt ′O = vector yb′′ = 6.4 m/s 2
We know that angular acceleration of the slotted lever,
aBt ′O 6.4
= = = 12.3 rad/s 2 (Anticlockwise) Ans.
OB ′ 0.52