Info

A hollow cylinder is lowered into a larger vessel filled with water. The bottom of the cylinder is a loose plate which is held tight by the external water pressure. The cylinder is gradually filled with colored water, and when the height of the water is the same in both containers, the plate falls away.

Setup Instructions

1. Fill the large cylinder up with clear water about 2/3 full.

2. Take the small cylinder, pull the string so the plate is against the bottom, and insert it carefully into the large cylinder. It should go in without water getting inside it. This makes the water level in the outer cylinder rise – make sure that it doesn't rise too high or the small cylinder floats and pops up out of the water!

3. Take the cylinder back out and leave the second beaker of colored water nearby.

4. Let the professor insert the small cylinder and fill it with the colored water.

Parts List

Cylinder with Cylinder and Plate inside in B. Fluids & Mech, 1B

Large Plastic Beaker in B. Fluids & Mech, 1B

Glass Beaker in B. Fluids & Mech, 1B

Food Coloring in B. Fluids & Mech, 1B

Relevant Simulation

Demo Example:

Other Information

N/A

Real-Life Examples

N/A

More Advanced Reading

N/A