BUBBLES
Team
Taiwan
So Much | More To Clean up
1
Problem
Is it possible to float on water when there are
a large number of bubbles present? Study how
the buoyancy of an object depends on the
presence of bubbles.
Observation
Floating
object
Generating more
bubbles
Object
sinking
3
Observation
Total volume of water
increases (water
surface rises)
Floating object sinks
decreased
buoyancy?
Theory 1
When there are no bubbles,
Density of water =
= 1000
3
When there are bubbles,
= 1.28~1.3
+
3
=
+
( = )
1.29 + 1000 1000
=
+
+
<
When there are enough bubbles present
< <
= <
Experiment 1
Purpose
The amount of bubbles
VS
buoyancy
Air stone
Hydrometer(s)
Experiment 1
Experiment 1
Density-Height
1.00
0.95
0.90
0.85
0.80
0.75
( ) 0.70
0.65
0.60
0.55
0.50
10
(cm)
15
20
25
Experiment 1
Conclusion
Bubbles cause the effective density of the fluid
to decrease
buoyancy of object decreases
Experiment 2
10
Experiment 2
= 1.28~1.3
mg
11
Experiment 2
12
Experiment 2
13
Experiment 2
Plastic beads float
around randomly
No evident water flow
14
Experiment 2
What we know
Characteristics of system
Confined
Unconfined
Large scale water flow
Unconfined system: Yes
Confined system: No
Water flow provides upward lift force
Possible to float in the presence of
many bubbles
mg
15
Theory 2
,
.
= + =
+
16
Experiment 3
Purpose
Quantify the force caused by bubbles and
water flow
17
Experiment 3
Coach 6
Tank
Force Sensor
Hydrometer
Air Pump
18
Experiment 3
Amount
of
Bubbles
Impulse
Force
Water
Flow
Speed
Effective
Density
19
Experiment 3
Impulse Force & Water Flow
Speed
Effective Density
20
Experiment 3
Effective densityWater flow
speed
Effective densityImpulse force
1.16
1.14
1.14
1.12
1.12
1.10
1.1
1.08
( )1.08
( )
1.06
1.06
1.04
1.04
1.02
1.02
1.00
0
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
F (N)
10
20
V (cm/s)
30
21
Experiment 3
=
= 2
+ =
=
+ 2 =
+ 2 =
= +
= ( +
)
22
Experiment 3
Conclusion
B
Unconfined system
Bubbles lower effective
density
Water flow (flow speed,
impulse force)
increases effective
density
mg
23
Conclusion
Presence of bubbles lower average density of
water
Buoyancy is decreased
Confined system
No evident water flow
Unconfined system
Significant impulse force
Effective density can be raised
Possible to float in the midst of bubbles
24
THANK
Y O U
V E R Y
M U C H
f
o
r
listening
25
Experiment 1
45.3
(cm)
20.5
(cm)
Note: = +
Using , we can calculate the theoretical density of the fluid.
Initial
conditions
Area:
42.25(cm2)
Height of
water surface
(0 ):
45.3(cm)
Height of
hydrometer
(0 ): 20.5
(cm)
Specific
Water: 1.00
Hydrometer:
0.85~1.00
26
Experiment 1
2
0
Hydrometer reading
27
Experiment 1
(cm)
(cm)
0.7
1.1
1.3
2.0
3.7
3.7
4.1
5.1
7.8
8.8
1.2
2.1
2.0
3.4
6.8
6.5
7.1
9.3
13.5
14.3
T (
0.9846
0.9763
0.9721
0.9571
0.9245
0.9234
0.9170
0.8976
0.8511
0.8373
E (
3 )
0.9854
0.9743
0.9756
0.9585
0.9170
0.9207
0.9134
0.8866
0.8354
0.8256
0.1
2.1
4.1
6.1
8.1
10.1
12.1
14.1
16.1
18.1
20.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
28
Things to further investigate
Besides the impulse force of water and bubbles, what other
forces would act upon the floating object? (Drag? Viscosity?
How will surfactants affect the phenomenon?)
The final physics of the bubble
What happens after the floating object sinks for a certain
depth? Is there an absence of bubbles on the top of the object?
29
Experiment 2
Bubble
generator
Huge bubble
30
Experiment 1
Output of air small
(cm) (cm)
Output of air large
(cm) (cm)
0.5
1.2
0.9846 0.9854
4.8
9.1
0.9030 0.8890
1.0
1.6
0.9571 0.9805
5.8
11.5
0.8849 0.8598
1.5
1.0
0.9675 0.9695
6.8
13.6
0.8677 0.8341
0.9900
0.9200
0.9850
0.9000
0.9800
0.8800
0.9750
0.8600
0.9700
0.8400
0.9650
0.8200
0.9600
31
0.8000
0.9550
0.5
1.0
1.5
0.7800
(cm)
4.8
5.8
6.8 (cm)
Application 1
Explain the phenomenon
Bubbles vs. floating object
32
Application 1
,
,
.
= + <
+ <
.
33
Application 1
(cm) (cm)
1.0000
0.9800
0.9600
0.9400
0.9200
0.9000
0.8800
0.8600
0.8400
0.8200
0.8000
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
0.7
1.1
1.3
2.0
3.7
3.7
4.1
5.1
7.8
8.8
1.2
2.1
2.0
3.4
6.8
6.5
7.1
9.3
13.5
14.3
T
3
) (
0.9846
0.9763
0.9721
0.9571
0.9245
0.9234
0.9170
0.8976
0.8511
0.8373
3 )
0.9854
0.9743
0.9756
0.9585
0.9170
0.9207
0.9134
0.8866
34
0.8354
0.8256
Application 2
Explain the phenomenon
Water flow vs. sinking object
35
Application 2
, ,
.
= + >
+ >
.
36
confined system
Application 2
unconfined
system
37
Experiment 3
log(Impulse Force) log(Water
Flow Speed)
0
0
0.5
1.5
Explanation
Frank Go!
-0.5
y = 2.1234x - 3.8632
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
38
Experiment 3
Experimental Setup
Force gauge
Plastic boards
Tank
Bubble generator
39
Experiment 3
Bubbles
confined system
0.05
0.25
Convection
Water flow
40
unconfined system
Experiment 3
0.3
Unconfined system
()
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
Confined system
0.05
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
(2)
41
