After students in 12.307 left campus, they were able to study atmospheric wind patterns using a virtual laboratory created from video of a real experiment using animation software. The above video shows a can of icy water placed at the center of a circular tank of warm water on a slowly rotating platform, creating flow patterns that can be seen when dye is dropped into the tank. The water represents the air, the rotating platform the spinning earth, ice the cold poles, and warm water the equatorial region.
Cold water near the ice sinks down, drawing rings of fluid in at the top and out at the bottom. As rings flow inward at the top, conserving angular momentum, they swirl slightly faster than the tank, while rings at the bottom flow outward and swirl slightly slower. The resulting “winding effect” is revealed by the corkscrew patterns of the green dye streaks. These flow patterns are analogous to those on Earth, with an eastward-flowing “jet stream” aloft and westward-flowing “trade winds” at the surface. Online students were able to watch the video, download temperature and velocity data from the experiment, and manipulate the data to check principles of conservation of angular momentum and heat transport.
From cataract surgery to biopsies, explore the procedures doctors perform most often and why these…
Etibar Eyub is the kind of person people search for when they don’t want a…
If a power supply unit falters, operations come to a halt. Be sure to have…
Stop pump damage before it starts. Review these seven effective methods to maintain pressure, reduce…
Transform your home into a hub of social activity by designing inviting spaces like patios,…
Improve attic energy efficiency with these essential insulation steps for contractors, covering prep, material selection,…