Convection tube
lava lamps
lava lamp

 

Code Number: 4B20.10

Demo Title: Thermal Convection of a Liquid Demo

Condition: Good

Principle: Thermal Convection in a Fluid

Area of Study: Thermodynamics

Equipment: 

Convection tube (glass, square-shaped), Ink or Food Coloring, Bunsen Burner, Water.

Procedure:

Fill the tube with water leaving enough room for several ml of coloring. Care is needed to see that undue strain is not put on the glass assembly when moving. The fastest convection is obtained when the burner is placed towards the corners of the apparatus. Quite a bit of coloring is needed to overcome dilution during convection. Note: Plexiglas will melt at around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful in your positioning of the Bunsen burner.

References:

  • Fernando F. Dall’Agnol, Rodrigo A. Antunes, Marcio R. Loos, and Daniel den Engelsen, "Counterintuitive Convection Flux Confined in a U-Shaped Tube", TPT, Vol. 57, #3, Mar. 2019, p. 184.
  • S. Velasco, J. A. White, and F. L. Román, "Cooling of Water in a Flask: Convection Currents in a Fluid with a Density Maximum", TPT, Vol. 60, #1, Jan. 2010, p. 60.
  • Richard J. Bohan and Guy Vandegrift, "Temperature-Driven Convection", TPT, Vol. 41, #2, Feb 2003, p. 76.
  • Edward J. Carlone, "Convection Demonstrator", TPT, Vol. 21, #7, Oct. 1983, p. 464.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., "Convection Current Apparatus", AJP, Vol. 80, #7, July 2012, p. 647.
  • "H-160. Liquid in Loop - Candle in Box", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • G. D. Freier and F. J. Anderson, "Hc-2", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • Tik Liem, "The Confused Bottles", Investigation to Science Inquiry, p. 206.
  • John Henry Pepper and Henry George Hine, The Boy's Playbook of Science, p. 383.
  • David Kutliroff, "66, Convection Currents Made Visible with a Dye in a Glass Tube Filled with Water", 101 Classroom Demonstrations and Experiment For Teaching Physics, p. 146.
  • Janice VanCleave, "27, One Will One Won't", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 43.
  • Ron Hipschman, "Convection Currents", Exploratorium Cookbook III, p. 180.1 - 180.4.
  • "Convection Currents", Science Snackbook, p. 28.1 - 28.2.
  • Janice VanCleave, "Curls", 201 Awesome, Magical, Bizzare, & Incredible Experiments, p. 86.
  • Curt Suplee, "How Heat Gets Around", Everyday Science Explained, National Geographic, p. 68 - 69.
  • Julius Sumner Miller, Q153 & A153, Millergrams II – Some More Enchanting Questions for Enquiring Minds, p. 33 & 90.
  • Joseph Frick, "# 375 - Conducting Power of Liquids", Physical Technics: Or Practical Instructions for Making Experiments in Physics and the Construction of Physical Apparatus with the Most Limmited Means, p. 451.
 
4B20.10 - Thermal Convection of a Liquid Demo

 

4B20.10 - Dr. James Wetzel, PHYS 1611 - Convection 
 
4B20.10 - University of Maryland QOTW Question #314

 

4B20.10 - University of Maryland QOTW Answer #314