Related papers: The (not so simple!) chain fountain

If a chain is initially at rest in a beaker at a height h1 above the ground, and the end of the chain is pulled over the rim of the beaker and down towards the ground and then released, the chain will spontaneously "flow" out of the beaker…

The chain fountain is an entertaining, counter-intuitive phenomenon. When a chain flows up over the edge of a container and then falls to the ground below, it is observed that the top of the chain rises up above the containers edge. Here…

We show via proof-by-construction that the chain fountain, also known as the Mould effect, is a generic consequence of energy conserving dynamics of linear chains, similar to the extra acceleration observed for hanging or falling chains.…

We analyze the chain fountain effect--the chain siphoning when falling from a container onto the floor. We argue that the main reason for this effect is the inertia of the chain, whereas the momentum received by the beads of the chain from…

In recent years the chain fountain became prominent for its counter-intuitive fascinating physical behavior. Most widely known is the experiment in which a long chain leaves an elevated beaker like a fountain and falls to the ground under…

If a long chain is held in a pot elevated a distance h_1 above the floor, and the end of the chain is then dragged over the rim of the pot and released, the chain flows under gravity down into a pile on the floor. Not only does the chain…

The fascinating and anomalous behaviour of a chain that instead of falling straight down under gravity, first rises and then falls, acquiring a steady shape in space that resembles a fountain's sprinkle, has recently attracted both popular…

We propose a simple model which possesses the chain fountain effect.

The origin of the fountain pressure that arises from a small temperature difference in superfluid helium is analyzed. The osmotic pressure explanation due to Tisza (1938), based on the different fractions of ground state bosons, is…

Dried droplets of polymer solutions of different molecular weights and concentrations leave various types of 'coffee-ring' patterns. These patterns are consequence of contact line motion. We have observed for very low molecular weight the…

The conditions in which meridional recirculations appear in swirling flows above a fixed wall are analysed. In the classical Bodew\"adt problem, where the swirl tends towards an aysmptotic value away from the wall, the well-known "tea-cup…

The so-called "Kelvin water dropper" is a simple experiment demonstrating the spontaneous appearance of induced free charge in droplets emitted through a tube. As Lord Kelvin explained, water droplets spontaneously acquire a net charge…

To gain insights into momentum transfer from the supporting environment, we consider the simple problem of a bullet, fired from below, into a wooden beam resting on two supports. The resulting upward velocity of the beam strongly depends on…

Turbulent fountains are widespread natural phenomena with numerous industrial applications. Extensive research has focused on the temporal evolution and maximum height of these fountains, as well as their dependence on Reynolds and Froude…

The teapot effect refers to the tendency of a poured liquid to cling to the lip of a container and run down the outside. It is a familiar but physically rich example of flow separation. We present a low-cost experiment for introductory…

We study in this article the motion of a floating ball attached to a soft string set in circular motion through its other end. Although simple, the system exhibits rich dynamics that we investigate experimentally and theoretically. At low…

An evaporating droplet is a dynamic system in which flow is spontaneously generated to minimize the surface energy, dragging particles to the borders and ultimately resulting in the so-called "coffee-stain effect". The situation becomes…

The interaction of electrical fields and liquids can lead to phenomena that defies intuition. Some famous examples can be found in Electrohydrodynamics as Taylor cones, whipping jets or non-coalescing drops. A less famous example is the…

The bottle-flip challenge -- the upright landing of a partially filled bottle after tossing and flipping it in the air -- unexpectedly became a viral mechanics exercise. Through high-speed visualization, we evidence that fluid content…

A paper of Thomas Young (1773-1829) on the behavior of streams of air makes a good starting point for discussing the not always fair, sometimes serendipitous, association of a physical phenomenon with its discoverer. In a didactic context,…