Pascal's Vases
Equipment: Pascal's vases, colored water, a video camera and a backdrop.
What it does: The colored water rises to the same level in all four tubes though the tubes are of different shapes.
Concepts Demonstrated: Hydrostatic pressure is independent of the shape of the vessel.
Classroom assembly:
- Add water to one tube of Pascal's vase. The water will distribute through the tubes so that the height of the water is the same in all four tubes.
Cautions: None.
Setup Time: Short.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Visibility: High. With a video camera, this demonstration is appropriate for large lecture halls.
Related demonstrations:
References: PIRA 2B20.40
Original Construction: Purchased.
Disclaimer: All demonstrations are posted for the convenience and benefit of faculty and staff in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University and are not intended for outside use. The author(s) assume no responsibility or liability for the use of information contained on this site. Warnings and precautionary measures listed on this site assume normal operation of equipment and are not inclusive. Demonstrations may pose a significant hazard and can, in some instances, result in death; reasonable safety precautions must be taken. Demonstrations should be performed by qualified individuals only.
Prepared by Jeff Rudd, 1999
Revised by Laura Schmidt, 2007