Only for Physics geeks

[Motofool]

How is this possible?

Link to original page on YouTube.

[allanoue]

Liquefaction

[ShadowStalk3r]

Have you try the link in the describtion?

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/.../magic-spheres

[Joshorilla]

It's called the Brazil Nut Effect, they believe the smaller particles have a ratcheting effect ocupying the space below the larger objects while it's being shook causing the object to rise. First observed in muesli where brazil nuts were always at the top.

[Joshorilla]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granular_convection

[CC Cowboy]

Pure magic!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by ShadowStalk3r

Have you try the link in the describtion?

I tired, but that describtion is elusive and liquefacted.

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

It's called the Brazil Nut Effect.........

Interesting...........

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Pure magic!

I suspected you were not much into Physics.

[StephenA]

lighter, less dense ball rises in the medium of corn while heavier, more dense bearing will sink. similar to why oil "floats"on top of water. i'm suspecting.

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by StephenA

lighter, less dense ball rises in the medium of corn while heavier, more dense bearing will sink. similar to why oil "floats"on top of water. i'm suspecting.

The density of the object doesn't matter, get a steal ball bearing and some rice and you'll observe the same effect.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

The density of the object doesn't matter, get a steal ball bearing and some rice and you'll observe the same effect.

Link to original page on YouTube.

there are two objects of similar size and shape(a ping pong & a steal ball) that do the opposite of each other. The only difference is density.

[StephenA]

very interesting. i love physics

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I suspected you were not much into Physics.

Took Physics in High School and College, got straight A's. I was still better at anatomy to perform my magic.

[Alex]

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

I was still better at anatomy to perform my magic.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

That is it?

[choneofakind]

Haha well I'm not really well informed on things like this, but here's what I'm thinking:

I think this is not completely the Brazil Nut Effect. From my reading, that more explains how smallest particles fall through the cracks and settle in the bottom of the container; like when you put large rocks in a jar then fill the difference with sand, rather than placing the sand first.

It seems that when being swirled, the corn is significantly small enough in comparison to the balls that it acts somewhat like a fluid.

I also think the fact that the bearing is significantly more heavy than the corn kernels has something to do with it. The brazil nut effect explains the ping pong ball 'floating', but not the bearing 'sinking'. That's why I think the relatively massive weight of the bearing has something to do with it; if it were only about the size of the particle, both the ping pong ball and the bearing would both come to the surface.

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Haha well I'm not really well informed on things like this, but here's what I'm thinking:

I think this is not completely the Brazil Nut Effect. From my reading, that more explains how smallest particles fall through the cracks and settle in the bottom of the container; like when you put large rocks in a jar then fill the difference with sand, rather than placing the sand first.

It seems that when being swirled, the corn is significantly small enough in comparison to the balls that it acts somewhat like a fluid.

I also think the fact that the bearing is significantly more heavy than the corn kernels has something to do with it. The brazil nut effect explains the ping pong ball 'floating', but not the bearing 'sinking'. That's why I think the relatively massive weight of the bearing has something to do with it; if it were only about the size of the particle, both the ping pong ball and the bearing would both come to the surface.

The swirling isn't te brazil nut effect at all, but rather granular convection, if he were to shake the tub it would cause a ball bearning to rise to the top.

I hate "science magic" it only serves to cause an illusion of the impossible rather than explaining the wonders of physics, cheap, they could have at least thrown in a couple of references or explain it at all. I didn't watch the video till now if i'm to be honest, science fun magic is a pet peeve of mine.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

The swirling isn't the brazil nut effect at all, but rather granular convection, if he were to shake the tub it would cause a ball bearing to rise to the top.

Ah I see. I suspected the different motions would have a different effect, but the explanation for the ping pong ball was so convenient with the brazil nut thing that I just went with the assumption that the swirling motion and shaking motion had the same effect.

So the relative smallness of the kernels does make them act like a fluid. Cool!! here's a quick reference I just read, for anyone who's hearing of granular convection for the first time (like me): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granular_convection

Agreed. I wish they would demonstrate, then talk about the theory for 30 seconds, then demonstrate again.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

.............here's a quick reference I just read, for anyone who's hearing of granular convection for the first time (like me): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granular_convection

Excellent !!!..............much better

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/...d=%5BUNIQID%5D

"How does it work?

The secret is in the densities of the ball bearing and ping pong ball. If you compare the size, or volume, of the two spheres, you'll notice that they are very similar. However, if you compare the masses of the two spheres, there is a distinct difference. The ball bearing is much heavier than the ping pong ball.

The two spheres share a comparable volume, but differ in mass. That means the balls have different densities. Density is the measure of how much "stuff" is in a particular space. In this instance, we are talking about how much "stuff" each sphere has in them. To calculate density, divide the mass of the object by it's volume.

So what does density have to do with the ball bearing sinking while the ping pong ball rises to the top? The swirling motion of the popping corn (which has a density somewhere between the two spheres) let's the ball bearing sink past the kernels. The same motion forces the ping pong ball upwards as individual kernels slide down, past the ping pong ball."

[Jono]

It's science.