Siphon Explained by Doctor C

A water siphon is a very common tool, but few really understand how water can flow uphill. Here we see that a siphon works because water acts as if each molecule were chained together; there can be no gaps in a constrained water column.

You can also see that an actual chain behaves exactly like a fluid siphon. Here is it easy to comprehend that the heaver external section of chain pulls up and out the lighter section of chain in the vessel.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• siphon
• doctor c
• water siphon
• physics
• how a siphon works
• siphons

[diabolicalr666]

The chain analogy is interesting when considering gravitational effects but, I think pressure difference is more important when trying to understand why a siphon works...

[straydoggio]

That's pretty cool, with the chain example. Note to self (remember): water acts as a chain.

[danielc0307]

Great!