For anyone who's going to make this thing, here are few improvements you can: 1. make a 2cm radius hole instead that large one shown in video 2. connect a used up toilet paper roll cardboard onto the board for increased accuracy 3. ??? 4. profit!
I've seen vortex generators with a piece of taut plastic/etc. stretched over what would be the back of your box. You can pull it back and release it to generate the pressure wave (instead of slapping the box), and put quite a bit more power in it. Great video!
Great video! I arrived here after watching an old QI show where they did the same thing. I am teaching preschoolers English in China and this will be my new game! No more balls or sand-bags! The vortex-cannon will amaze their parents and the students alike~ Of course, I then watched all of your videos so far. Great job for all your videos~ Thank you very much. Please continue with the home-safe kind of experiments. Little students need them too~ All the best.
Hello, it really is just that, a box with a hole in the front and something for it to knock over. When you hit the sides the compresses the air inside and forces it out as a vortex ring. Now, a vortex ring is a donut of air which rotates on itself. (Its not particularly clear from the video that it does that but trust us, it does.) These are quite stable and will only fall apart when it hits something more solid than it, such as an object or a strong gust of wind. Or if it lose momentum.
Apologies if we have made ourselves sound like total douches in the process - we have been genuinely touched by the overwhelming positive response and attention and the only way we can show our appreciation is by giving you MORE VIDEOS! New one comes up on monday. It involves skateboards, how can that not be anything but awesome? :P
This video isn't shared under creative commons. We hold the copyright and they havent asked permission to reupload it onto their own site and put ads around it to generate revenue. We are (for real) students who make these videos for the love of science and making people laugh, albeit in an awkward fashion. We were surprised as anyone that has notched up so many views, but we don't feel particularly comfortable that someone else is cashing in. We'd love to hear everyones opinions on this. :)
@algarch Hello again! Having done a bit of research we've found this out for you. If you make the aperture smaller, the ring will follow suit and shrink also. However, the smaller the hole the faster the air will rush out - this is known as the Bernoulli effect. If the air speed is too fast the ring will collapse immediately and we won't be able to knock over the cups at anywhere near the range of what we had in the video. :)
@algarch - Great question! We didn't try any other sizes (we put our recycling out that week!) but we're going to go away and find out for you! Thank you for watching!
@FWshaun98 You don't even need the smoke :) All you need to do is reinforce the box on the sides you're not going to cut open then cut the aperture. We only used the smoke to make the air flow visible.
Now, what happens if you get two, and let the shots hit each other in mid air? Would maybe look cool, especially if you could get two different sized ones maybe...
My girl, daughter and I found a box 65x65x85cm. We made the hole 15cm of diameter. We don't have smoke machine, so, we can't see the vortex. But it works... tumbling some cups... and moving our doughter hair. It works with a 4m distance. We tried larger, but, as we don't see the vortex, it behaves strange... The question is: should we make the hole bigger? I think there would be a math to generate the best hole for that dimensions... do you know it? If not... do you have any suggestion? Thx!
Do you all have any how to on constructing a vortex cannon? I would really like to try this if it is something that is able to be done with things that are available to everyone.
I assume that the vortex would be smaller if you cut a smaller aperture in the box. But what would that do to the range and intensity? Did you try any others prototypes before this one?
so my nephew had a science fair project this spring break and i was thinking of using this. is this all i really need? I tried to find on your website the explanation of this but could not find it. @URNScienceShow
Does it work without the smoke in? :) I mean, the smoke is quite dense and would pack a punch on those cups, but does atmospheric air also knock cups out?
is it possible for me to make a vortex cannon just by putting smoke inside a box and hitting it? i really want to make one so i need to know what to do lol.
Geometry Dash: Proton a real vortex cannon doesn't use smoke, instead it uses compresses air, so if a military vortex cannon hit you, I'm pretty sure it would rearrange your organs into a clockwise position. (You're dead), but the amount of time it takes to compress the air for it to be an effective weapon would be too long, and it would also be a short range weapon. It would probably be useful for crows control during riots, but the cannon would probably rupture some ear drums.
was it just me or when the dude said "...we have to put a hole in the box" the next line in my head was "two, put you junk in that box, three make her open the box."
For anyone who's going to make this thing, here are few improvements you can:
1. make a 2cm radius hole instead that large one shown in video
2. connect a used up toilet paper roll cardboard onto the board for increased accuracy
3. ???
4. profit!
Mount a subwoofer to it, put on a saw wave and enjoy your machinegun
This puts every fancy diy to shame. If Im gonna make a vortex cannon this is it hands down
I've seen vortex generators with a piece of taut plastic/etc. stretched over what would be the back of your box. You can pull it back and release it to generate the pressure wave (instead of slapping the box), and put quite a bit more power in it. Great video!
Great video! I arrived here after watching an old QI show where they did the same thing. I am teaching preschoolers English in China and this will be my new game! No more balls or sand-bags! The vortex-cannon will amaze their parents and the students alike~
Of course, I then watched all of your videos so far. Great job for all your videos~ Thank you very much. Please continue with the home-safe kind of experiments. Little students need them too~
All the best.
Hello, it really is just that, a box with a hole in the front and something for it to knock over. When you hit the sides the compresses the air inside and forces it out as a vortex ring. Now, a vortex ring is a donut of air which rotates on itself. (Its not particularly clear from the video that it does that but trust us, it does.) These are quite stable and will only fall apart when it hits something more solid than it, such as an object or a strong gust of wind. Or if it lose momentum.
Yes, the smoke just visualizes the path of the air so it looks better on camera.
Apologies if we have made ourselves sound like total douches in the process - we have been genuinely touched by the overwhelming positive response and attention and the only way we can show our appreciation is by giving you MORE VIDEOS! New one comes up on monday. It involves skateboards, how can that not be anything but awesome? :P
Yes it will work. The smoke is to show the movement of the air so it is easier to see.
This video isn't shared under creative commons. We hold the copyright and they havent asked permission to reupload it onto their own site and put ads around it to generate revenue.
We are (for real) students who make these videos for the love of science and making people laugh, albeit in an awkward fashion. We were surprised as anyone that has notched up so many views, but we don't feel particularly comfortable that someone else is cashing in.
We'd love to hear everyones opinions on this. :)
Really want this to get a million views! Love you Davs and George!
@algarch Hello again! Having done a bit of research we've found this out for you. If you make the aperture smaller, the ring will follow suit and shrink also. However, the smaller the hole the faster the air will rush out - this is known as the Bernoulli effect. If the air speed is too fast the ring will collapse immediately and we won't be able to knock over the cups at anywhere near the range of what we had in the video. :)
@algarch - Great question! We didn't try any other sizes (we put our recycling out that week!) but we're going to go away and find out for you! Thank you for watching!
@FWshaun98 You don't even need the smoke :) All you need to do is reinforce the box on the sides you're not going to cut open then cut the aperture. We only used the smoke to make the air flow visible.
if there was a way to make it silent -> great halloween tricks
"Secondly, put a hole in the box." I know where this is going...
Of course, it works just the same. The smoke just makes it visible and so much cooler to look at ;)
Futility at its finest in the first five seconds. Great video guys, keep up the good work!
When I make one of these I'm going to add an overhang over the hole so that smoke doesn't block my line of sight.
out of curiosity, if the diameter of the exit hole is smaller, but the same volume of air passed through, would it be as powerful/travel as far?
This is the easiest way to make one. Thanks for sharing. Will give it a try.
Now, what happens if you get two, and let the shots hit each other in mid air? Would maybe look cool, especially if you could get two different sized ones maybe...
Can you increase the power by making the hole smaller?
I'll try making one of these with my nephews this weekend.
Is the smoke only there to make it visible or do you need the smoke so that it will function?
Cool. I assume this is a similar phenomenon to those ring bubble videos people with underwater GoPro cameras are fond of making.
Oh with that u can practice "panchira" (upskirt ) but in japan there's natural vortex doing panchira everywhere
Have you tried different box sizes and different hole sizes and shapes?
It depends on the size of the box! You might have to experiment a bit.
My girl, daughter and I found a box 65x65x85cm. We made the hole 15cm of diameter. We don't have smoke machine, so, we can't see the vortex. But it works... tumbling some cups... and moving our doughter hair.
It works with a 4m distance. We tried larger, but, as we don't see the vortex, it behaves strange...
The question is: should we make the hole bigger? I think there would be a math to generate the best hole for that dimensions... do you know it?
If not... do you have any suggestion?
Thx!
With the aim of a Storm Trooper O.o
Please explain this from fluid mechanics aspect. Angular momentum conservation?
Do you all have any how to on constructing a vortex cannon? I would really like to try this if it is something that is able to be done with things that are available to everyone.
We get it, you vape
Yeah you can pick similar things up from shops, but making your own is more fun we think!
It can indeed! We just used smoke to make the rings visible.
I assume that the vortex would be smaller if you cut a smaller aperture in the box. But what would that do to the range and intensity? Did you try any others prototypes before this one?
Does there HAVE to be smoke of some sort, or was that just so you could see it happening?
is adding smoke really necessary for the pushing effect?
This is so amazing and simple! I foresee endless hours of fun with my smoke vortex cannon!
Does it need the smoke or is it just there to help guide you?
so my nephew had a science fair project this spring break and i was thinking of using this. is this all i really need? I tried to find on your website the explanation of this but could not find it. @URNScienceShow
The Thundergun is finally explained. Another thing added to ma bucketlist (Make a cannon with the same effects as the Thundergun).
@Lighningbreaker It's only to make it visible, removing the smoke allows for stealth attacks.
will it go further if the hole is smaller?
You can indeed! It's like having an elephant blow at you! Pretty cool as you can't see the ring if you don't add smoke so it surprises you too!
Will that work if I cut hole smaller so i can get bigger range ?
Is the smoke really necessary?!? I really wanna try it.
Is it possible to make a vortex shotgun with multiple smaller holes?
Is the smoke necessary or was it only for visual effect?
I'm going to go make one right now!! Super cool!!
@URNScienceShow From such fantastic experiments, have you worked out an optimum box size / aperture diameter for maximum cup destruction at distance?
Does it work without the smoke in? :) I mean, the smoke is quite dense and would pack a punch on those cups, but does atmospheric air also knock cups out?
Yes. Any smoke or powder-like substance will work fine. Have fun!
So you don't actually need smoke then, it's just so you can see it?
what would happen if u made a smaller hole and copress the air more and make it more powerful
what happens when you makes the hole like a square
The smoke is to make it visible I think, it shouldn't affect how the air acts
Cool! How did they generate the smoke?
I can't wait to do this with my son! Thanks!
You'd think a truncated cone aimed toward the target would make the vortex more "condensed"...
oi lads whats the benefit or a point of this smoke gun? what could it be used for ?
What did you put into the box ? Air ?
@URNScienceShow Hi, is there a specific ratio to the size of the aperture to dimensions of the box?
is it possible for me to make a vortex cannon just by putting smoke inside a box and hitting it? i really want to make one so i need to know what to do lol.
When you started the steps I wanted to laugh. 1st get a box, 2nd put a hole in the box. Damn SNL for that song.
George gave me a tour on the Nottingham open day!
Cool!!!!
What's the smoke machine? Pls answer...
I had the same train of though. I was half expecting him to tell us step 3, put your junk in the box.
@Lighningbreaker The smoke is only there to make it visible :) It will work with or without smoke!
It wouldn't go as far. Think of it like a coasting wheel. A big wheel is faster and goes further than a small wheel.
no, its only used so you can see the vortex in the video
How big does the hole have to be?
Wow it works! :) did the same with my son right after seen that. BTW, does anyone knows how to make safe smoke at home?
Yeah, smoke is for adjusting aim, distance, etc.
65 people's cup pyramid got blown away
try placing Snoop Dogs weed instead of simple fog,to make it even funnier xD
SO I STEP OUTSIDE AND I TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND I GET REAL HIIIIGGGHHH!!! HEY BABY! WHATS GOIN ONN!!!!!!???!?!??!?!?!?!?
Drago Corps Imagined if Military Vortex Cannon is used with multiple people. They could have ricochet 5 feet away or knock out.
Geometry Dash: Proton a real vortex cannon doesn't use smoke, instead it uses compresses air, so if a military vortex cannon hit you, I'm pretty sure it would rearrange your organs into a clockwise position. (You're dead), but the amount of time it takes to compress the air for it to be an effective weapon would be too long, and it would also be a short range weapon. It would probably be useful for crows control during riots, but the cannon would probably rupture some ear drums.
Drago Corps Yeah! I heard the result of this masterpiece. But yeah thank you for your knowledge.
Can you feel it if its fired at you?
no you need the sound wave which looks like smoke
Would it work without smoke?
It's just a box with a hole ? Nothing in the box ?
This is... actually... pretty... fuckin' awesome.
no, it's not necessarily. the smoke is needed just for observe what is going on
As you build you have used??
where do you get the smoke machine?
was it just me or when the dude said "...we have to put a hole in the box" the next line in my head was "two, put you junk in that box, three make her open the box."
I wish my science class was this cool
is the smoke required?
Does it work without smoke?
Does It run outside?
am i the only one, or did something just sound like portal when you "shoot" your vortex cannon? (@1:29)
How can it be so simple?!
You guys have created fun times!
now how often do people have smoke makers
What on earth do 31 people have to dislike about this? It's just so cool. lol
Can you guys show the video how to make it
is this smoke that necessary?
can this work without the smoke
Wow, it's like a proof of concept call of duty zombies thunder gun, plz develop
an electrical version for science for zombie control.
did this at the weekend its well cool