Apple drop animation Newton(about 300 years ago)
figured out a complete mechanics using the idea of INERTIA --that a body set in motion keeps going unless affected by an outside source.

 

Dropping a stone down a mine shaft?

Would there be a noticeable eastern deflection of the stone due to earth's rotation? NEWTON'S physics said "yes."

BUT--the depth of the shaft was so slight compared to the radius of earth that the experiment was inconclusive.

 Drop animation

 

Another Idea
How about shooting a projectile in a north/south direction? Would it show a deflection?
Fire

 

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