1D52.20 Water Parabola

1D52.20 Water Parabola

Mount the tank on a motor and, using a funnel, fill it about a quarter of the way up with water with food coloring. Turn on the motor and slowly accelerate it so that the water forms a desired parabola. Spinning the tank too quickly will result in water spilling out.

A tank so narrow that it is practically two-dimensional contains a small amount of colored water. The tank has a square cross-section and is mounted on a motor so that it spins about the center of its bottom edge. A bottle of what appears to be colored water topped with a plastic funnel sits nearby.

 

Location: B1-4