Poor science. Coriolis effect plays no role in this at all.

http://www.snopes.com/science/coriolis.asp

I have a feeling this is a tourist trap type thing. The bowl clearly had the water coming out at an angle, which would make a rotation in the above water.

Also, if he filled the bowl with the pitcher on the left side or right side of the bowl will impart a spin on the fluid. If there was an effect from the rotation of the Earth, it surely wouldn't be that obvious across 20m.

Ah confirmed. This guy is repeating crap from Palin's PBS show, so this is like a bad chain email that has persisted for decades. http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadCoriolis.html


Notice he used the side of the pitcher for the no rotation, and he uses the spout from a high distance for the counter-clockwise example.

*lies not science

Adding video to channels (Lies) - requested by joedirt.

*debunked (in the comments)

Adding video to channels (Debunked) - requested by SlipperyPete.

This is still a very cool documentary...buncha Mythbuster watchers

Similarly Stephen Fry shows fascination for the way water flows, in his series Fry in America, when he visits the Rockies and marvels at how on either side of the Great Divide, the water always flows in opposite directions.