What is that ultra-sonic distorted waterfall gizmo seen at fairs?

Discussion in 'Hydrodynamics and Aerodynamics' started by Squidly-Diddly, Dec 16, 2016.

  1. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    It takes a normal flow of water from a faucet and makes the water seem to go 'up stream' and dance around in mid air, defying all physics and logic.

    Typically sold at Art & Wine festivals, etc.

    Some sort of sound vibration. Tune-able to different shapes.
     
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  2. upchurchmr
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Never seen it.

    Is this some of that "fake" news? :p:D
     
  3. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    Nope, not fake or even NEWs.

    It basically makes a standard facet amount of water dropping about 2ft turn into various jagged sine wave Zs about 2-6 inches amplitude, including water flowing "uphill" in midair.

    IIRC they were selling for about $80 including a modern artsy 'fountain' display.

    $80 was a lot of money back then, but today seems like a bargain.

    I'm wanting to get one to "gas light" someone, because no one would believe it if they didn't see it for themselves.

    The trick will be only turning it on when I know they can't record it on cell phone.
     
  4. Tiny Turnip
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    Tiny Turnip Senior Member

    This, Squidly?

     
  5. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member


    Yep, thx!

    And why aren't these in every trendy bathroom?

    Put one on a water pitcher and charge kids $10 glass for "cursed water" (opposite of Holy Water) at "raves".
     
  6. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    Maybe your bones/cartilage dissolves if you wash your hands in it..
    J.
     
  7. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    I'm gonna install one for my gold fish pond.

    Its gotta big tall UGLY preexisting filter sorta like this but about 2x as big with about 16" drop from an overflow spigot to the pond. Right now its just sitting next to the pond.http://www.aquaticponds.com/Fish-Ma...JTHfPbnzJM5sEpMrorwkFKslBdeNBSQkHsaAiIV8P8HAQ

    I'll put SOME sort of decorative cover that will also hide sound apparatus.

    Maybe some motion sensors so it kicks on whenever someone walks by for about 1 min, then stops for next 2 hours.

    I wonder if it will do anything to the fish.:confused:

    If I wanna go for tacky front yard art I'd make a little flying saucer with lights for the water so it looks like its magically sucking up water like a fish alien abduction.

    I wonder how pond or salt water would act VS straight fresh.
     
  8. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    Well that's one way to find out.. if you end up with jelly fish then you'll know, the ultrasonic cleaners we have are no touchy if running but maybe a function of the energy/wavelength/old conservators tale(?)

    Jeff.
     
  9. daiquiri
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    daiquiri Engineering and Design

    It is an optical effect which only works when watched through a camera (or with strobe light) with frame rates in sync with the sound frequency. When this is set-up correctly, the system appears completely still, and the water seem to assume odd static shapes.

    It is the same principle used in water tunnels for the investigation of propellers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3WwQKZ05Uk - this is not a slow-mo video of a prop. The prop is rotating at high RPMs but the light is in sync with the prop rotation frequency. Since our eyes only capture moments when the light is on, and the light is on only when the prop blades are in the same position as during the previous turn, to our eyes these prop blades appear motionless (or moving very slowly, when the syncronization is not perfect).

    Now back to the video in the OP. When the guy changed the sound frequency from 24 to 23 or 25, the oscillatory movement of the pipe could be noticed. And it explains what happens:
    - the loudspeaker's wall oscillate at the sound frequency.
    - this oscillation is transmitted to the pipe
    - the water flow is deflected back and forth at the same frequency
    - the syncronized camera capture the scene in such way to make the water flow appear still.

    In reality, under ordinary bulb light, or in daylight, the waterflow would appear scattered.
     
  10. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

  11. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    No, I've seen these live at Art and Wine shows and it looks just like the youtube.

    Yes the hose in one shot moves but that must be just a loose hose end.
     
  12. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

  13. daiquiri
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    daiquiri Engineering and Design

    Oh, I see. It must be some kind of magic then.

    By the way, ultrasonic refers to sound frequencies above the human hearing range - which is conventionally above 22 kHz.
    In this case frequencies are pretty close to 20 Hz, which is the conventional treshold of infrasounds.
     
  14. daiquiri
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    daiquiri Engineering and Design


  15. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Pre-schoolers find them to be mysterious.
     
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