Rohit Velankar, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, found himself pondering the rhythmic sound of pouring juice into a glass. This simple act led him to question whether a container’s elasticity had an impact on the way its contents drained. What started as a science fair project quickly turned into a collaborative effort between Rohit and his father, Sachin Velankar, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering.
The Velankars set up an experiment in their basement to investigate Rohit’s initial question. Their findings were so compelling that they were published in their first joint paper in the journal Physics of Fluids. Sachin Velankar expressed how invested he became in the project, emphasizing the importance of seeing it through to completion. Their research revealed that containers with rubber lids drained faster than those with plastic lids, uncovering the phenomenon of “glugging.”
In pursuit of further understanding, the Velankars crafted their own acrylic bottles with rubber lids at Fox Chapel Area High School’s makerspace. By strategically placing sensors near the bottom of the bottles, they were able to measure pressure oscillations with each glug. Through experimentation, they confirmed that flexible bottles indeed drain faster, albeit with larger and less frequent glugs.
The Velankars’ father-son collaboration delved into the realm of fluid dynamics, showcasing how the elasticity of containers can impact the draining process. This research not only sheds light on a seemingly mundane aspect of everyday life but also highlights the significance of curiosity-driven exploration in scientific inquiry. The findings from this study may have implications for various industries that rely on efficient liquid transport, offering a new perspective on container design and functionality.
Rohit and Sachin Velankar’s journey from a simple science fair project to a published paper demonstrates the power of inquisitiveness and collaboration in scientific discovery. By embracing curiosity and delving into uncharted territories, they were able to uncover valuable insights into fluid dynamics that have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of container mechanics.
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