College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2B60.10 - Hero's Fountain
Code Number:
References:
2B60.10
Demo Title:
Hero's Fountain
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Pressure vs. Water Height
Area of Study:
Heat & Fluids
Equipment:
Hero's Fountain Demo unit, Large Hero's Fountain using two 5 gallon carboys (Glass), Fluorescein, Black lights, Pseudo Hero's Fountain Demo (Pop Bottle Demo).
Procedure:
Demo Unit: Fill the top flask with water by sucking on the tapered tube while holding the short tube on the other end of the flask under water. Holding a finger over the tapered tube so that the water does not escape, insert the upper assembly into the lower flask. Fill the cup on the top with water. Remove the finger and water should start to spout due to a compression of air in the lower flask.
The large fountain is exactly the same as the small unit except that the glass tubes are connected with hoses so that a larger separation of the reservoirs can be produced. This in turn gives a greater internal pressure buildup and a greater water stream height. Fluorescein is added to the water for Astronomy demo so that black lights may be used to illuminate this demo for a greater effect. NOTE Take great care with the carboys when filled with water as this makes them super fragile to bumps and scratches.
The pseudo Hero's Fountain demo has made some obvious sacrifices for the sake of reversibility. There are only two reservoirs instead of three. The fountain also is not a continuous stream in this demo but rather an intermittent spurt.
- P. P. Ong, "Hero's Fountain: Reversible Model", TPT, Vol. 30, # 7, Oct. 1992, p. 436.
- Virgil E. Stubblefield, "Hero's Fountain: Quick and Squirty", TPT, Vol. 30, # 7, Oct. 1992, p. 437.
- Jeff Brooks III, "The Air-Ram Jet Pump- An Improved Hero's Fountain", TPT, Vol. 21, # 5, May 1983, p. 318.
- Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., "Hero's Fountain", TPT, Vol. 20, # 3, Mar. 1982, p. 170.
- Fc- 2: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
- Borislaw Bilash II, David Maiullo, "How's You Do That?", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 10.
- 212: "Hero's Fountain", On Gases, Unknown Reference.
- Y. Perelman, "Modification of Heron's Fountain", Physics Can be Fun, p. 300 - 303.
- Tik L. Liem, "Turn A Little Water Into A Lot Of Lemonade", Invitations to Science Inquiry - Supplement to 1st and 2nd Ed. p. 27.
- Joseph Frick, "#106 - Hiero's Fountain", Physical Technics: Or, Practical Instructions for Making Experiments in Physics and the Construction of Physical Apparatus with the Most Limited Means", p. 127.
- The Queen Catalogues Vol. II, Catalogue of Physical Instruments, No. 4200, p. 23.
Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.