@ jreddin1

I agree with you, its pressure (not specifically or exclusively atmospheric, although it can contribute) and gravity that drives the siphon.

Re your comment on zero G, let me try to throw a spanner in your works. How about we go into deep space and do it in a rotating reference frame (i.e. a centrifuge), just like the spaceship in 2001 A space odyssey. Technically no gravity (in the Newtonian sense of a force between two masses) but the siphon would certainly work!

I'd do this experiment and film it, but finding a few billion dollars to go up on the space shuttle ain't easy...

I just watched the second video. You're definition there seems pretty good to me, since it doesn't use the confusing term "Atmospheric Pressure".

I like the idea of you testing the height that the siphon quits working, but you need to expand the idea some. You need to test the maximum heights for containers at different levels. In other words, do it for containers that are 1 meter apart, 2 meters, 5 meters, maybe even ten. I think you'll find that the distance the siphon works changes based on the differences in the heights of the two vessels.

Another good test is to set both vessels up with the two tube setup, but connect the 'air' tubes together once you start the siphon. If the siphon continues, then you will have proven that "Atmospheric Pressure" isn't a contributing factor, just pressure differentials.

Thanks for the entertainment!

Maybe we're just talking terminology here, but "Atmospheric Pressure" is usually defined as "the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the Earth's atmosphere."

Since the "Atmospheric Pressure" in both containers is nearly identical (the lower container is actually higher)  it couldn't possibly be responsible for the energy used by a siphon. It's got nothing to do with "Atmospheric Pressure." It's gravity and DIFFERENCES in pressure. Gravity causes the liquid to seek a lower energy state (i.e. fall in the tube), that causes a partial vacuum in the higher tube which pulls the liquid up and through. The kinetic energy of the higher liquid is the 'fuel' for the siphon effect. If you put both containers in the same vacuum chamber, started the siphon and then lowered (or raised) pressure in that chamber, the siphon would continue.

If, however, you tried to do a siphon in zero G, nothing would happen.

By chance have you read "Quantum" by Jim Al Khalili? (Name might not be quite right...)

Great videos there, thanks.

Keep up the great work - very educational

Just found your videos. They are all excellent, nice and clear and nicely explain things I really should understand by now. :-)

u just sum up things so easily!
its amazing how easily u explain it all.
thank u for sharing ur knowledge

Hi Folks,

More videos will be coming in early 2010. Things are a little slow at the moment as I am currently spending 6 months working in Sweden without a camera and all the equipment I need to make new vids.

Cheers, Adam

Make Mo Videos!