Air vortex cannon
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2011) |
The air vortex cannon, sold commercially as the air bazooka or airzooka is a short, wide plastic tube with a slight taper and a plastic diaphragm at the larger end. The diaphragm is attached to elastic strips which allow it to be extended and released with a sudden rush forcing a quantity of air out of the smaller end at speed. The design facilitates the formation of an air vortex which travels some distance and retains its energy sufficiently to cause a noticeable disturbance when it strikes a person or object.
Its simple construction easily allows home made versions to be built.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The vortex effect has been observed since antiquity. The toy was invented by Brian S. Jordan who had the idea as a boy but was only able to develop it to a saleable toy in adulthood with the help of Creative Group Marketing (CGM).[3] It was launched in 2003 by Can You Imagine, Incorporated of Chatsworth, California .[1][4] The production toy has a diameter of 12 inches and can project a vortex able to ruffle hair, disturb papers or blow out candles at a distance of up to twenty feet.
The worlds biggest Air vortex cannon was built in March 2008 by students of physics professor Dan Dahlberg at the University of Minnesota with diameter of 9 feet and a displacement volume of 2873 gallons. Its effective range was 100 feet.[5] [6]
It has been taken up by theme parks such as Universal Studios and visitor attractions to add a spooky touch to visitors in "haunted houses".[1]
[edit] How it works
It is one common commercial example of vortex ring toys. A quantity of air is expelled from the toy in such a way as to create a doughnut-shaped vortex ring. The core region of the vortex ring always consists of the same air travelling away from the cannon. The doughnut region travels with the core but acts as a rotating buffer between the core and the still surrounding air. Just as a rotating wheel lessens friction with the ground, the doughnut vortex lessens friction between the core and the surrounding still air. The core puff of air thus travels much further and retains its speed much better than a jet of air with no vortex.[2]
[edit] External links
- Air vortex cannon working on ignited gas at BBC's Bang Goes the Theory
- http://www.funkygadgetshop.co.uk/index.php?productID=240 - Air Zooka, Type of Air Vortex Cannon
[edit] References
- ^ a b c How to make an air bazooka ,July 11, 2006, Accessed Jan 2011
- ^ a b Physics in a Toroidal Vortex: Air Cannon Physics Central, American Physical Society . Accessed January 2011.
- ^ Creative Group Marketing website. Accessed Jan 2011
- ^ Inventors Spot Post by vectorplex, Re: Dripless Ice Cream Cone Concept » Wed Dec 29, 2010
- ^ Erbert and Gerberts Candle Cannon at Youtube. Accessed 9 Jan 2011
- ^ World's Largest Air Vortex Cannon Blows Out Birthday Candles From 180 Feet at geekology.com. Accessed January 2011
