The Vortex Cannon - Student Science

After weeks of pestering, we finally give in and let George build a vortex cannon - with surprisingly spooky cup flying results. For more information on the physics behind this head on over to www.urn1350.net/thescienceshow to listen to the full podcast!

[@URNScienceShow]

Apologies if we have made ourselves sound like total douches in the process - we have been genuinely touched by the overwhelming positive response and attention and the only way we can show our appreciation is by giving you MORE VIDEOS! New one comes up on monday. It involves skateboards, how can that not be anything but awesome? :P

[@drkastenbrot]

Mount a subwoofer to it, put on a saw wave and enjoy your machinegun

[@johnr.timmers2297]

This puts every fancy diy to shame. If Im gonna make a vortex cannon this is it hands down

[@tinkertracy]

Great video! I arrived here after watching an old QI show where they did the same thing. I am teaching preschoolers English in China and this will be my new game! No more balls or sand-bags! The vortex-cannon will amaze their parents and the students alike~ Of course, I then watched all of your videos so far. Great job for all your videos~ Thank you very much. Please continue with the home-safe kind of experiments. Little students need them too~ All the best.

[@darrybanny]

Really want this to get a million views! Love you Davs and George!

[@FirefoxN]

Futility at its finest in the first five seconds. Great video guys, keep up the good work!

[@omarkempkes5121]

This is so amazing and simple! I foresee endless hours of fun with my smoke vortex cannon!

[@URNScienceShow]

@algarch - Great question! We didn't try any other sizes (we put our recycling out that week!) but we're going to go away and find out for you! Thank you for watching!

[@stargazer674]

Yes, the smoke just visualizes the path of the air so it looks better on camera.

[@SnoopJeDi]

I've seen vortex generators with a piece of taut plastic/etc. stretched over what would be the back of your box. You can pull it back and release it to generate the pressure wave (instead of slapping the box), and put quite a bit more power in it. Great video!

[@URNScienceShow]

This video isn't shared under creative commons. We hold the copyright and they havent asked permission to reupload it onto their own site and put ads around it to generate revenue. We are (for real) students who make these videos for the love of science and making people laugh, albeit in an awkward fashion. We were surprised as anyone that has notched up so many views, but we don't feel particularly comfortable that someone else is cashing in. We'd love to hear everyones opinions on this. :)

[@quinnisquinn9502]

We get it, you vape

[@mitchelMUSSOrules]

You guys have created fun times!

[@URNScienceShow]

@algarch Hello again! Having done a bit of research we've found this out for you. If you make the aperture smaller, the ring will follow suit and shrink also. However, the smaller the hole the faster the air will rush out - this is known as the Bernoulli effect. If the air speed is too fast the ring will collapse immediately and we won't be able to knock over the cups at anywhere near the range of what we had in the video. :)

[@debsterhkx]

I'm going to go make one right now!! Super cool!!

[@URNScienceShow]

Hello, it really is just that, a box with a hole in the front and something for it to knock over. When you hit the sides the compresses the air inside and forces it out as a vortex ring. Now, a vortex ring is a donut of air which rotates on itself. (Its not particularly clear from the video that it does that but trust us, it does.) These are quite stable and will only fall apart when it hits something more solid than it, such as an object or a strong gust of wind. Or if it lose momentum.

[@z0mb1nat3r]

FANTASTIC!

[@Geolojas]

I can't wait to do this with my son! Thanks!

[@warhawkbm]

With the aim of a Storm Trooper O.o

[@praneshrao4132]

Yes it will work. The smoke is to show the movement of the air so it is easier to see.

[@Shift8YawnsShift8]

"Secondly, put a hole in the box." I know where this is going...

[@MikeTheRelic]

That is immense, guys. I know how I'm going to be spending my weekend. :-)

[@samdodgin]

@FWshaun98 You don't even need the smoke :) All you need to do is reinforce the box on the sides you're not going to cut open then cut the aperture. We only used the smoke to make the air flow visible.

[@avalonkiller]

For anyone who's going to make this thing, here are few improvements you can: 1. make a 2cm radius hole instead that large one shown in video 2. connect a used up toilet paper roll cardboard onto the board for increased accuracy 3. ??? 4. profit!

[@17teacmrocks]

if there was a way to make it silent -> great halloween tricks

[@Ruchir205]

This is the easiest way to make one. Thanks for sharing. Will give it a try.

[@bohdankazydub7791]

that was AWESOME!

[@account_gone_rip1223]

Much Enjoyed!

[@kiliankoe]

Of course, it works just the same. The smoke just makes it visible and so much cooler to look at ;)

[@URNScienceShow]

@Lighningbreaker The smoke is only there to make it visible :) It will work with or without smoke!

[@pepesilvia79]

Very cool!

[@Raxilla]

I'll try making one of these with my nephews this weekend.

[@URNScienceShow]

@Lighningbreaker It's only to make it visible, removing the smoke allows for stealth attacks.

[@matthewgoodman9700]

did this at the weekend its well cool

[@FranshouOld]

This is... actually... pretty... fuckin' awesome.

[@chaimtwee]

Very cool indeed

[@viktorprypoten5233]

must make one now!!!

[@ppybmjc]

Alas, they do. I was shocked too.

[@MimiGoesRawr]

this is so cool omg

[@GarySchopp]

This is great fun.

[@coffeesmasher]

freakin awesome

[@sprout_imbored2609]

I wish my science class was this cool

[@URNScienceShow]

Yeah you can pick similar things up from shops, but making your own is more fun we think!

[@captainparadoxius]

When I make one of these I'm going to add an overhang over the hole so that smoke doesn't block my line of sight.

[@URNScienceShow]

It depends on the size of the box! You might have to experiment a bit.

[@laggingdragons]

The Thundergun is finally explained. Another thing added to ma bucketlist (Make a cannon with the same effects as the Thundergun).

[@URNScienceShow]

You can indeed! It's like having an elephant blow at you! Pretty cool as you can't see the ring if you don't add smoke so it surprises you too!

[@jatnng2]

wow! old news is so exciting!

[@vinimartinson]

MANUAL DO MUNDOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[@Ramaln]

@URNScienceShow From such fantastic experiments, have you worked out an optimum box size / aperture diameter for maximum cup destruction at distance?

[@dharmisthakahar8755]

Very good

[@URNScienceShow]

It can indeed! We just used smoke to make the rings visible.

[@SuperScoooty]

Cheerio mate. Nice cannon.

[@acerkiwi]

Thanks guys cool.

[@HeadlessT1111]

I had the same train of though. I was half expecting him to tell us step 3, put your junk in the box.

[@harrjm]

When you started the steps I wanted to laugh. 1st get a box, 2nd put a hole in the box. Damn SNL for that song.

[@sramageee]

George gave me a tour on the Nottingham open day!

[@Cemoman17]

OMG I have a fog machine too! I'ma go make one of these.

[@thet4i]

IT JuSt AweSoMe ....

[@ossaguena]

I want one!

[@youngchanglee7845]

FUS RO DAH!!

[@TinchoX]

이영창 You know, that actually never crossed my mind but... it actually makes sense! xD

[@crus_crus]

YOUNG CHANG LEE that's exactly what I was going to say!

[@rg0057]

Cool. I assume this is a similar phenomenon to those ring bubble videos people with underwater GoPro cameras are fond of making.

[@glavinator27]

HA HA. Yes exactly what I thought of when I saw it. The fact that I am not the only one makes my day.

[@PreachedRook63]

Yes. Any smoke or powder-like substance will work fine. Have fun!

[@soFunGirl]

Awesome, now I know what I'm going today.

[@Pogue4]

Looks like Great Fun... :)

[@ChrisAnderson42]

What on earth do 31 people have to dislike about this? It's just so cool. lol

[@bigwerd916]

YES!!!

[@rowheat88]

was it just me or when the dude said "...we have to put a hole in the box" the next line in my head was "two, put you junk in that box, three make her open the box."

[@desenxuxator]

Oh with that u can practice "panchira" (upskirt ) but in japan there's natural vortex doing panchira everywhere

[@sosvocaloid]

this is fucking sick!!!

[@dawnkiller]

"You can get it from all good forest fires, but I get mine from Sainsbury's." Beardyman reference, anyone? :D

[@Rattlehead7211]

nah it just looks awesome

[@franx90]

YES! SCIENCE!

[@RaffaBangalter]

Thak you. I love you too. :)

[@reaperyuki8992]

65 people's cup pyramid got blown away

[@MrZibits]

agreed

[@octopibingo]

Tuesday is your day in the box.

[@mathburn1]

man it so fun

[@Benedictwesson]

I shouldn't think so, just looks more awesome :P

[@Holothurion]

Nice scientific toy, must try it.

[@aimevous]

@URNScienceShow Hi, is there a specific ratio to the size of the aperture to dimensions of the box?

[@Liutkust]

thats sick :D

[@jimmychenchen]

cool!

[@mrr7782]

Cool!!!! What's the smoke machine? Pls answer...

[@sketchyaardvark]

Glad I wasn't the only one who got that :P

[@lugh.i]

This is awesome and I freaking love all the references to "FUS RO DAH" and "Dick In A Box".

[@algarch]

I assume that the vortex would be smaller if you cut a smaller aperture in the box. But what would that do to the range and intensity? Did you try any others prototypes before this one?

[@Sotenn]

Does it work without the smoke in? :) I mean, the smoke is quite dense and would pack a punch on those cups, but does atmospheric air also knock cups out?

[@freetringers]

Cool! How did they generate the smoke?

[@orangufan]

wah patut dicoba nih

[@XDM_Studios]

this shit is awesome!

[@valkookie]

try it out! :)

[@davidmcmillon4119]

genius, in making a vortex rifle!

[@UnDEADBishop138]

2:11 THEY SHRUNK THE TRIANGLE!

[@Davidfnsiphone]

so my nephew had a science fair project this spring break and i was thinking of using this. is this all i really need? I tried to find on your website the explanation of this but could not find it. @URNScienceShow

[@youtubeyoutubeyou]

ryu and ken will be so happy seeing this. HADUKUN

[@MrRockFjellstad]

AAAAAAAAAAAWESOME!!

[@00scoutsniper00]

Do you all have any how to on constructing a vortex cannon? I would really like to try this if it is something that is able to be done with things that are available to everyone.

[@Arthiurito]

LIKE A AIRBENDER!