When Rohit Velankar, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, began pouring juice into a glass, he noticed the rhythmic “glug, glug, glug” sound emanating from the carton. This simple observation sparked curiosity in his mind – did a container’s elasticity have any impact on the way its contents drained?
What started as a science fair project for Rohit evolved into a collaborative research endeavor when he enlisted the help of his father, Sachin Velankar, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. The duo set up experiments in their basement and delved into exploring the dynamics of fluid flow in containers.
Their efforts culminated in the publication of their research findings in the journal Physics of Fluids. Rohit’s initial experiments revealed that containers with rubber lids emptied faster than those with plastic lids, shedding light on the phenomenon of “glugging.” The decrease in pressure within a flexible container allows for a smoother dispensing of fluid, as opposed to rigid containers that result in more pronounced glugs.
To further investigate the influence of elasticity on fluid drainage, the Velankars fabricated custom acrylic bottles with rubber lids using resources available at Rohit’s high school makerspace. By incorporating sensors near the exit holes of the bottles, they were able to measure pressure oscillations during the draining process. Through meticulous adjustments to the hole diameters, they simulated varying levels of flexibility and confirmed that flexible bottles indeed drained faster, albeit with larger and less frequent glugs.
The collaborative efforts of Rohit and Sachin Velankar have not only deepened their understanding of fluid dynamics but also opened avenues for further exploration in the field. Their research serves as a testament to the power of curiosity-driven inquiry and the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in scientific pursuits. Moving forward, the Velankars aim to expand their research to explore the impacts of different materials and designs on fluid flow dynamics in containers.
The Velankars’ journey from a simple observation to a published research paper exemplifies the spirit of scientific inquiry and familial collaboration. By delving into the nuances of fluid dynamics, they have added valuable insights to the field and set the stage for future explorations in this fascinating realm of study.
Leave a Reply