Labs & Lending Library
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Nanophysics
Atomic Force Microscopy
Resistance of Atomic Wires
Imaging Atoms (Demonstration)
Waves
Audio Crime Lab
Resonance in Transverse Waves
Diffraction of Light
Clearly Colorful Thin Films
Exploring Wave Phenomena
Arecibo's Giant Mirror
Doppler Effect
Resonance in Longitudinal Waves
Electricity and Magnetism
Water Analogy to Electric Circuits
Discovering Ohm's Law
Too Cool to Resist
Magnetic Force on a wire with current
Biocircuits
Foutan Board
Snap, Crackle and Pop
Nature of Resistance
Power to the People
Quantum Physics
Bohr Model Game
The Phantastic Photon
Light Emitting Diodes
Mechanics
Double Pendulum
Mousetrap and Ping Pong Balls
The Physics of Rock Climbing
Vortex Rings
Stunt Car Challenge!
The Physics of Baseball
Particle Physics
Cloud Chamber and Cosmic Rays
Optics
Communicating with Light
Is the Light Bulb Too Good to be True?
Measuring the Speed of Light
Energy
Energy Conversion in a Light Bulb
Other
Introduction to Graphing
Introduction to the Oscilloscope
DNA Diffraction and DNA Structure
Vortex Rings
Authors:
Rustom Bhiadvala,
Joan Taber
Lab Manual: 
Download
Kit: Reserve
Abstract: This experiment seeks to sharpen students' ability to observe, document and draw conclusions from a complex and visually appealing phenomenon. The elements of setting up controls in an experiment are emphasized. The intent is to shape the student's ability to design and experiment, to study and understand chosen aspects of a real-world phenomenon. The basic procedure involves dropping dye into water, which in many instances results in the formation of a vortex ring. Instability in the ring builds and it breaks into smaller drops which form a new set of rings. This process may repeat itself several times to create a cascade of rings. Vortex motion is widespread in the air and water that surround us, and this experiment makes it visible.
