whirlpools for science day

7/31/2019 Whirlpools for Science Day

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Whirlpools!

Whirlpools are generally found in large bodies of water. Whirlpools since

ancient times have invoked mysticism and wonder. Whirlpools actually

belong to a member of the study of Fluid Dynamics, which consists of

other members such as tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones etc. We seek to

replicate a miniature version of this fascinating phenomenon in our

experiment.

The Science involved with a whirlpool

Whirlpools are generally formed by rising and falling tides in the ocean.

They may exhibit a downdraft, a downward force. Whirlpools are formed

by ocean currents that move in opposite directions. Any time water flows

through a narrow path, it forms at least a partial whirlpool. As the water
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passes through the narrower opening, it accelerates and forms a more

powerful force. If the downstream area then enlarges, it can mature into

a complete whirlpool.

As water is pulled into an opening by gravity, it begins to spin. As the

water is pulled down into the opening as an effect of the gravitational pull

of the Earth, the water particles fight for the smaller space and push

each other to the side. This pushing and nudging by itself would not

necessarily cause the water to spin. Once this begins, it intensifies and

forms a cavity in the center of the drain. The cavity creates a vacuum

into which objects such as bubbles, water molecules, and other floating

objects are pulled. As these objects are sucked into the vortex, the

centrifugal (outward) force maintains the hole in the middle through

which air passes. This eventually forms the full structure of a whirlpool,

consisting of a free vortex and a downdraft.
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This picture shows the hole in the middle of the whirlpool, where

the air passes through.

How our experiment works

Our experiment makes use of a water pump to overcome the force of gravity.

1. Water from a glass tank will be channelled through a clear plastic water hose.

2. Water is pumped through a large purple funnel and the cyclone tube to

provide the shape of the whirlpool. From a top view, a whirlpool can be observed in

the funnel.

3. Water that moves out of the bottom of the funnel will move into a clear coke

bottle.

4. A slit is being made in the support (metal bowl), to allow the water to escape

from the coke bottle.

5. The water will return back to the glass tank and the water will flow towards the

water pump. The cycle starts all over again.

How does the prototype produces the whirlpool?

When the flows out of the water hose, the water initially moves in a

circular path around the interior of the funnel. The shape of the funnelprovides a narrow path that produces the partial whirlpool. This is

because when the water is pulled into an opening by gravity, it begins to

contribute a vertical component of motion, which results in a helical path.

As the water passes through the narrower opening, both the horizontal

and the vertical components accelerate and form a more powerful force.


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The region of increasing force eventually matures into a complete

whirlpool.

Whirlpools that we see:

The Saltstraumen maelstrom (Maelstroms is a more destructive form of

whirlpools)

Giant Whirlpool as an effect of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan, 8 March 2011
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whirlpools for science day

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