Geyser Model

This is a model of a geyser that we built and tested for a science fair.

Materials:
500 ml Flask
Heater
½ inch PVC Pipe
Plastic Bowl
Ring Stand
Rubber Stopper
Plumbers Putty

Procedure:
Fill the flask with water to about 3/4 full. Insert the stopper into the flask. Insert the PVC tube into the rubber stopper so it goes down into the flask. Place the flask on the hot plate. Drill a hole in a plastic bowl. Insert the PVC tube into the hole in the bowl and place the bowl on a ring stand. Put plumber's putty on the bottom of the bowl around the PVC tube to keep the bottom of the bowl from leaking. The bowl should catch the water from an eruption and also allow the water to go back into the flask. Fill the bowl until water runs down the tube into the flask. Keep pouring water until the flask and tube is full of water. Do not fill the bowl above the top of the PVC tube. Use a tall tube or board and draw lines on it to measure the height of the eruption. Turn the heater on and allow the water to heat up and watch the eruption.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Science Fair
• Geyser Model

[rgvander]

Actually, we were originally inspired by your work. We did change all the variables you mentioned as well as the diameter of the pipe. We then measured the time between eruptions and the height and duration of the eruption. We were limited to a 3 foot pipe which resulted in an eruption that hit the ceiling. I agree that in a natural geyser the pressure is probably released by the bubbles traveling up the conduit but our approach demonstrated the physics and seemed to give us better control.

[brdavis5]

Nice; how did the science fair go? I've done a few of these as well, and put up videos and a web page on it, but it's always nice to see other examples. did you try changing anything in the model? Heat input, conduit height, how deep the tube was inserted in the flask? I'm skeptical that many really geysers have the "head space" for live steam to accumulate however.

[giserarte]

jajaaja

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