The Coriolis Force can be described by examining motion from a merry-go-round. While on the rotating platform, when you try to walk toward or away from the center, the Coriolis Force makes it nearly impossible.  Before you begin to walk, your angular speed equals that of the merry-go-round; as soon as you move one way or another, your angular speed must either increase or decrease to conserve your angular momentum, making you fall over. 

View a brief movie demonstrating the Coriolis Effect! (QuickTime Video)

  The Coriolis Force also applies to weather.  As air moves from high to low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere, it is deflected to the right by the Coriolis force. In the southern hemisphere, air moving from high to low pressure is deflected to the left by the Coriolis force.  This creates a spiraling effect similar to that present in the eye of a hurricane.