Centrifuge Bottle with Salt or Fine Sand, Steel Nut, and Plastic Stick Pins

 

Code Number: 2B40.85

Demo Title: Granular Segregation - Rising Stones

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Granular Mixing and Segregation

Area of Study: Fluids

Equipment: 

Centrifuge Bottle with Salt or Fine Sand, Steel Nut, and Plastic Stick Pins.

Procedure:

Lay one of the containers on its side.  As you shake the container from side to side the nut will sink to the bottom and the light weight pin will come to the top.  The upright container can be shaken in an up and down manner.  The light pin will sink to the bottom and the steel nut will float to the top.

References:

  • Martin Gardner, "The Rising Marble", TPT, Vol. 32, #6, Sept. 1994, p. 381.
  • David Miller Raybin, "The Stones of Spring and Summer", TPT, Vol. 28, #7, Oct. 1990, p. 500. 
  • Rolf G. Winter, "On the Difference Between Fluids and Dried Beans", TPT, Vol. 28, #2, Feb. 1990, p. 104.
  • Robert B. Prigo, "Liquid Beans", TPT, Vol. 26, #2, Feb. 1988, p. 101.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 25, #6, Sept. 1987, p. 398.
  • Paul B. Umbanhowar and Daniel I. Goldman, "Low Density Fragile States in Cohesive Powders", AJP, Vol. 74, #8, Aug. 2006, p. 720.
  • James Kakalios, "Resource Letter GP-1: Granular Physics or Nonlinear Dynamics in a Sandbox", AJP, Vol. 73, #1, Jan. 2005, p. 8.
  • George Spagna, "Buoyant Force Analog: A Demonstration for the Vertical Stage Overhead Projector", AJP, Vol. 49, #5, May 1981, p. 507.
  • Sung Chang, "A Gently Aerated Bed of Glass Beads Sorts Objects by Density", Physics Today, Vol. 69, #4, Apr. 2016, p. 23.
  • Jasna Brujic, "Jammed Particles, From Sandy Beaches to Sunscreens", Physics Today, Vol. 63, #11, Nov. 2010, p. 64.
  • Steve K. Blau, "Stone Cold: Patterned Ground in Alpine and Artic Regions", Physics Today, Vol. 56, #4, Apr. 2003, p. 23.
  • Troy Shinbrot and Fernando J. Muzzio, "Nonequilibrium Patterns in Granular Mixing and Segregation", Physics Today, Vol. 53, #3, Mar. 2000, p. 25.
  • "F-125. Cartesian Diver Analog - Beans",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Martin Gardner, "The Rising Marble", Science Tricks, p. 41.
  • Borislaw Bilash II and David Maiullo, "Balls in Beans", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 192.
  • Jearl Walker, "2.109. Avalanche Balloon", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 130.
  • Jearl Walker, "2.108. Brazil-Nut Effect and Oscillating Powders", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 129.
  • Janice VanCleave, "19. Less Is More", Engineering For Every Kid: Easy Activities that Make Learning Science Fun, p. 133.
  • Janice VanCleave, "A Rising Ball", Chemistry for Every Kid, p. 16 - 17.