It all started with a simple pour of juice into a glass, as Rohit Velankar, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, noticed the rhythmic “glug, glug, glug” sound coming from the carton. This led him to question whether a container’s elasticity could affect the way its fluid drained. What began as a science fair project soon turned into a collaboration with his father, Sachin Velankar, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering.
As they set up their experiment in the family’s basement, little did they know that it would lead to their first published paper together. Sachin Velankar, reflecting on the project, mentioned how invested he became as a scientist throughout the process. Their findings were eventually published in the journal Physics of Fluids, marking a significant milestone for the father-son duo.
Rohit’s initial experiments revealed that deli containers with rubber lids emptied faster compared to those with plastic lids. The phenomenon of “glugging” was attributed to the exiting water reducing the pressure within the bottle. Flexible containers, such as those used for IV fluids or boxed wine, were able to dispense fluid without the characteristic glug sound. This prompted the Velankars to delve deeper into how a container’s elasticity impacts its draining process.
To study this further, they decided to create their own acrylic bottles with rubber lids using tools available at Fox Chapel Area High School’s makerspace. By incorporating a sensor near the bottom hole of each bottle, they were able to measure pressure oscillations with each glug. Through their experiments, they confirmed that flexible bottles indeed drain faster, albeit with larger and less frequent glugs.
The Velankars’ journey from a simple question during a pour to a published paper highlights the power of curiosity and collaboration in scientific research. This father-son team not only deepened their understanding of fluid dynamics but also showcased the importance of hands-on experimentation in unraveling the mysteries of the natural world.
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