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Fun with water and a toothpick at the equator

Sonja recounts her experience observing the Coriolis effect at the equator in Kenya

When I was in Kenya in 2005 my Magellan GPS showed all zeros at the equator.  

Locals showed me the funnel and the toothpick demonstration for direction of water falling north, south and on the equator. My Magellan showed a little bit to the north. I trusted the toothpick demonstration as being precise. I had understood that the military,  at that time, didn't want pin-point accuracy.

My son, Larry, is a power engineer at PIR and a must do, on his list, was to check for himself the dynamics of water flow at the equator.  The locals are set up to give the demonstration and for a 500 kes tip, roughly $5, he got his first-hand confirmation. 

Up to the north, a mere 10 metres, a toothpick swirled in a gentle clockwise spin. A little to the south, again 10 metres, the toothpick did a gentle anti-clockwise spin. The demonstrator walked in between and the toothpick rested as the water funneled out at the equator. 

For another 500 kes he got a signed certificate.