Interactives

ScienceXplosion - Painting at the Bernoulli

Eric makes art with a straw, thanks to the Bernoulli principle

Eric makes art with a straw, thanks to the Bernoulli principle

Eric makes art with a straw, thanks to the Bernoulli principle

Eric makes art with a straw, thanks to the Bernoulli principle

Format
Video,  Text,  Images
Subjects
Physics,  Science

How does this align with my curriculum?

Curriculum Alignment
AB 11 Chemistry 20 (2007, Updated 2014) Unit B: Forms of Matter: Gases
AB 8 Knowledge and Employability Science 8, 9 (revised 2009) Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
AB 8 Science 7-8-9 (2003, updated 2014) Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
MB 8 Science Grade 8 (2000) Cluster 3: Fluids
NB 8 Science 8: Beyond Earth: Human presence in the solar system (2021) Motion & Stability
NL 8 Grade 8 Science Unit 2: Fluids (revised 2010)
NS 8 Science Grade 8 (2020) Learners will test the effects of changes in temperature and pressure on the properties of fluids.
NU 8 Knowledge and Employability Science 8 (Alberta, Revised 2009) Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
NU 8 Science 8 (Alberta, 2003, updated 2014) Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
NU 11 Chemistry 20 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) Unit B: Forms of Matter: Gases
PE 8 Science Grade 8 (revised 2016) Unit 2: Fluids
QC Sec III Science and Technology Material World
QC Sec III Applied Science and Technology Material World
SK 8 Science Grade 8 (2009) Physical Science – Forces, Fluids, and Density (FD)
NT 8 Knowledge and Employability Science 8 (Alberta, Revised 2009) Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
NT 8 Science 8 (Alberta, 2003, updated 2014) Unit A: Mix and Flow of Matter
NT 11 Chemistry 20 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014) Unit B: Forms of Matter: Gases
ON 8 Science and Technology, Grade 8 (2022) Strand C: Fluids
MB 6 Science Grade 6 (2000) Cluster 2: Flight
NL 6 Grade 6 Science (2018) Unit 2: Flight
NS 6 Science 6 (2019) Physical Science: Flight
NU 6 K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004) Matter and Materials: Properties of Air and Characteristics of Flight
PE 6 Science Grade 6 (2012) Earth and Space Science: Flight
NT 6 K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004) Matter and Materials: Properties of Air and Characteristics of Flight
PE 6 Integrated Curriculum Grade 6: Science (Draft 2023) DK 1.4: Investigate forces and factors involved in flight.

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On this episode of ScienceXplosion, Eric makes his own airbrush and learns more about the Bernoulli Principle. It's not magic, it's science!

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Now it's your turn!
The Bernoulli Principle: 2 Simple Experiments

Did you know?

Daniel Bernoulli is the scientist and mathematician after which the Bernoulli principle is named. He worked on understanding how fluids work, such as how pressure changes when you block a part of a water hose with your fingers.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

  • Paper
  • Cardstock (such as from a cereal box)
  • Scissors
  • Plasticine or tape
  • A toothpick
  • Hole punch
  • A flexible or bent drinking straw
Materials for the second Bernoulli experiment
Materials for the the second Bernoulli experiment(© Mylène Gamache-Tremblay. Used with permission).

WHAT DO YOU DO? Experiment 1

Make a prediction. If you blow down on a piece of paper, what will happen? Try this short experiment to find out!

  1. Place and hold a sheet of paper slightly below your mouth.
  2. Blow hard towards the top of the paper. What do you observe?
  3. Try blowing gently. What did you observe?
Person blowing on paper
Person blowing on paper (Let’s Talk Science using an image by corbac40 via iStockphoto).

You can watch this video for a demonstration and a bigger version of the same experiment!

WHAT DO YOU DO? Experiment 2

  1. Cut a piece of paper that is about 4 x 4 cm.
  2. Cut a piece of cardstock that is about 4 x 4 cm
  3. Punch a hole in the center of the cardstock with a hole punch. You may need adult help with this.
  4. Place the cardstock on the top of the straw, like a tabletop, and line up the hole of the cardboard with the centre of the hole in the straw. Use some tape or plasticine to hold the cardboard square to the straw. Make sure the cardboard fits tightly on the straw.
Closeup picture of paper and cardboard on toothpick
Closeup picture of paper and cardboard on toothpick (© Mylène Gamache-Tremblay. Used with permission).
  1. Poke the toothpick through the middle of the piece of paper. Push the paper about a third the length of the toothpick.
  2. Place the toothpick with the paper and cardboard into the straw.
  3. Blow hard into the open end of the straw. Are you able to move the paper?
Completed setup of Bernoulli straw experiment
Completed setup of Bernoulli straw experiment (© Mylène Gamache-Tremblay. Used with permission).

WHAT’S THE POINT?

What you saw in this experiment is called the Bernoulli Effect.

Liquids and gases are both fluids. According to Bernoulli, When a fluid moves quickly, its pressure goes down. So when you blow hard, the fast moving air has a lower air pressure than the surrounding air. Since the pressure of the air surrounding the straw is higher than the pressure caused by you blowing into the straw, the paper will be pushed downwards towards the cardboard. 

Explaining how the Bernoulli experiment works
Explaining how the Bernoulli experiment works (© Mylène Gamache-Tremblay. Used with permission).

Understanding how fluids move is important for many reasons. Meteorologists need to know how the air is moving in order to predict weather. Aerospace engineers need to know how air moves around planes to help make planes that move through the sky safely. Understanding the Bernoulli effect can even apply in sports (read below)!
 

WHAT ELSE?

The Magnus effect is the Bernoulli effect applied to a rotating object. 

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Related Topics

Bernoulli’s Principle
Fluids
Pressure