Physics Of Granite Sphere Fountain

In this paper we explain the working principle behind this levitation.

Physics of granite sphere fountain. A granite wheel fountain in which the levitated object is a cylinder instead of a sphere. Burgers centre for fluid dynamics university of twente p o. Physics of the granite sphere fountain nasa ads a striking example of levitation is encountered in the kugel fountain where a granite sphere sometimes weighing over a ton is kept aloft by a thin film of flowing water. American association of physics teachers.

Ring sculptures that rotate on an axis are also built. A striking example of levitation is encountered in the kugel fountain where a granite sphere sometimes weighing over a ton is kept aloft by a thin film of flowing water. Physics of the granite sphere fountain jacco h. The sphere does not float being denser than water.

Box 217 7500 ae enschede the netherlands ko van der weele department of mathematics university of patras 26500 patras greece received 22 may 2013. It is often made from granite. The disk in this particular fountain has an estimated radius of r 0 50 m and approximate width 0 30 m. Snoeijer physics of fluids group and j m.

The kugel fountain shown here involves a massive granite sphere which oats and spins on a thin lm of owing water which is pumped out of a hole at the base of the fountain. In this paper we explain the working principle behind this levitation. Snoeijer1and ko van der weele2. We do produce a smaller version of our giant stone sphere fountains but there is a minimum order of 2 500 plus shipping.

It is demonstrated how the viscosity and flow rate of the fluid determine i the remarkably small thickness of the film supporting the sphere and ii the surprisingly long time it takes for rotations to damp out. Accepted 20 june 2014. Kugel fountains can be found all over the world. The theoretical results compare well with measurements on a fountain holding a granite sphere of one meter in diameter.

The hydraulics of the fountain can be controlled so that the axis of rotation of the sphere changes continually.