Cylinder with colored water
Cylinder with water
apparatus for paraboloids and vortices
apparatus for paraboloids and vortices
apparatus for paraboloids and vortices
Platform with Rotating Cylinder and Apparatus

 

Code Number: 2C50.40

Demo Title: Paraboloids and Vortices

Condition: Good

Principle: Turbulence and Vortex

Area of Study: Fluids

Equipment: 

Platform with Rotating Cylinder and Variable Speed Motor, Pasco rotator with thin rectangular tank, old Cenco rotator or rotating air table with thin rectangular tank, green food coloring.

Procedure:

Fill the cylinder with colored water to a depth of 4 or 5 cm. Start the apparatus rotating and then watch the parabola that forms at various rotation rates. NOTE: The speed control for the motor is real sensitive so be careful or you will rotate the cylinder too fast and the water will spill out.

This can also be done with the thin rectangular tanks that are available on the desired rotator or rotating air table.

References:

  • Ranko Martin Artukovic, Mirko Marusic, "Water Leakage from a Rotating Cylindrical Tank", TPT, Vol. 59, #5, May 2021, p. 360.
  • Richard M. Heavers, Rachel M. Dapp, "The Ekman Layer and Why Tea Leaves Go to the Center of the Cup", TPT, Vol. 48, #2, Feb. 2010, p. 96.
  • Hugo Graumann and Hans Laue, "Concave Liquid-Mirror Experiments", TPT, Vol. 36, #1, Jan. 1998, p. 28.
  • Erlend H. Graf, "Apparatus for the Study of Uniform Circular Motion in a Liquid", TPT, Vol. 35, #7, Oct. 1997, p. 427. 
  • Channon P. Price, "Teacup Physics: Centripetal Acceleration", TPT, Vol. 28, #1, Jan. 1990, p. 49.
  • Roy Euclide and Scott Welty, "Steam Engine Efficiency", TPT, Vol. 24, #5, May 1986, p. 308.
  • Jack Grube, "Centripetal Force and Parabolic Surfaces", TPT, Vol. 11, #2, Feb. 1973, p. 109.
  • Jeffrey M. Cohen and Mario D. Cohen, "Mach's Principle and General Relativity", TPT, Vol. 7, #4, April 1969, p. 241.
  • Richard E. Berg, "Rotating Liquid Mirror", AJP, Vol. 58, #3, Mar. 1990, p. 280.
  • R. Ian  Fletcher, "The Apparent Field of Gravity in a Rotating Fluid System", AJP, Vol. 40, #7, July 1972, p. 959.
  • John M. Goodman, "Paraboloids and Vortices in Hydrodynamics", AJP, Vol. 37, #9, Sep. 1969, p. 864.
  • Ashley G. Smart, "Quantized Vortices in a Nanodroplet", Physics Today, Vol. 67, #11, Nov. 2014, p. 16.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "10.6, A Rotating Water Lens", Why Toast Lands Jelly-Side Down, p. 162.
  • R. W. Pohl, "3. The Shape of the Surface of a Liquid", Physical Principles of Mechanics and Acoustics, p. 156.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "F.1, Spinning a Water-Filled Cylinder", Turning the World Inside Out, p. 66- 67.
  • Julius Sumner Miller, Q88 & A88, Millergrams I – Some Enchanting Questions for Enquiring Minds, p. 57 & 107.
Crazy Pool Vortex 
 
2C50.35 - Paraboloids and Vortices

 

2C50.35 - Paraboloids and Vortices

 

2C50.35 - University of Maryland QOTW Answer #211 Case 1 

 

2C50.35 - University of Maryland QOTW Answer #211 Case 2

 

2C50.35 - University of Maryland QOTW Answer #211 Case 3