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Table of Contents
Bernoulli's Top
Description
Consists of a clear acrylic spinning top filled with water. A pair of plastic beads with a lower density than water are inside.
Purpose
Illustrate Bernoulli's principle, Archimedes Principle (buoyancy), and centrifugal force.
Apparatus
- Bernoulli's top
Setup
The density of the balls is smaller than that of water so the balls naturally float in water. When the top is spun the water at the outer edge moves faster than water in the centre, thus pressure is lower at the edge and higher in centre. When top first spins, the balls tend to move outwards due to the pressure difference. But after a very short while, the balls get dragged by the water in the top, and spins with the water. In the rotational frame the water and the balls are stationary with respect to each other, and the Bernoulli's effect no longer exist on the balls. So the balls move towards the centre due to centrifugal force.
Notes
Demo room information
| Location | —- |
| Maker | Unknown |
| Current State | Working |