Operating Instructions:
- The device automatically switches to standby, along with other educational elements in the MOTIO center.
- Press the button on the worktable to initiate airflow from the tubes.
- Take a ball in your hand and place it in the airflow of one of the outlets so that it floats freely.
- Gently move the tube sideways to direct the ball towards the hoops. Try to pass it through one of them without touching it.
- Do you have an idea why the round object (ball) floats? Does this apply to other shapes as well?
Interactivity: A clear demonstration of Bernoulli’s principle of flow. The ball floats in the airflow. This experiment provides a hands-on opportunity to test the optimal shape of an object to reduce environmental resistance. Here, the battle between gravity and airflow is presented entertainingly. Press the „START“ button to start the airflow at the hose opening. Place a light ball at the opening. If positioned correctly, it will float. By moving the hose with concentrated airflow, you can influence the direction of the ball’s flight. Try to direct the ball into the metal rings that are part of the structure.
Educational Significance:
Smooth airflow around a moving vehicle is important not only to save propulsion energy, but it is also crucial for safety. Turbulent, swirling airflow can destabilize the moving object and cause an accident. For this purpose, technicians tried to find a way to test the designed shape in laboratory conditions. They finally found it in the form of a wind tunnel. Initially, it was used to test airplanes, but over time, it began to be used to test cars, buildings, bridges, and essentially everything that needs to be tested in this regard. The direction of airflow in it is visualized by smoke vents, often combined with wind markers on the surface of the model. The relationship between the object and airflow (conversely, environmental resistance) is playfully presented by the exhibit using the principle of flow. The issue of fluid flow was also studied in the 18th century by the famous Dutch-Swiss mathematician, physicist, and physician Daniel Bernoulli. He gave the key concept in fluid dynamics its name and formulated rules. The laws from it are applicable to gas environments. This device allows you to test it.
