Video Physics - Videos of Cool Experiments

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Small vortex rings of air are repeatedly fired at the surface of mineral oil to visualize the air ring impacts. Vortex rings are created when a large bolus of air is quickly forced through an orifice. As the air is forced through the orifice, it sticks to the surface opposite the orifice based on the Coanda Effect. This imbalance imparts a spin to the air. The air ring eventually detaches but remains structurally very well in tact as it cruises through the air since it has a great deal of inertia from its rotational velocity. Fluids love to spin. Vortex ring generators of all sizes are extremely easy to build. A small vortex ring generator can be made with a coffee can, tape, a plastic bad, and a rubber-band. The rubber-band is used to quickly force the plastic bag, acting as a diaphragm, to push the air within the volume of the can through a hole cut into the bottom of it.

Vortex Rings

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A miniature airplane/submarine made from styrofoam, a staple, and copper tape projects through the fluid in response to the magnetic field. The dramatic drop off in the strength of the field as the plane starts far from the magnet is evidenced by it sinking and then bouncing off the ink droplets.

Hybrid Airplane-Submarine

Submarine

Magnetic Field

Fluids

Trajectory in a Field

Viscosity

Fluids

Viscosity

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A thread, with steel clips mounted at various points along its length, is dragged around by a magnet. Eventually, one of the clips detaches from the thread, projects itself through the mineral oil, then through the mineral oil/air interface, and then through the air until it attaches itself to the magnet.

Magnetic Field

Fluids

Trajectory in a Field

Viscosity

Physics Experiments