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.
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!
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
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!
@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!
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. :)
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.
@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.
@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. :)
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?
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...
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?
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.
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!
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."
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.
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.
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!
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
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!
This puts every fancy diy to shame. If Im gonna make a vortex cannon this is it hands down
@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!
Really want this to get a million views! Love you Davs and George!
Yes, the smoke just visualizes the path of the air so it looks better on camera.
Mount a subwoofer to it, put on a saw wave and enjoy your machinegun
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. :)
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.
@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.
Yes it will work. The smoke is to show the movement of the air so it is easier to see.
Futility at its finest in the first five seconds. Great video guys, keep up the good work!
@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. :)
This is so amazing and simple! I foresee endless hours of fun with my smoke vortex cannon!
@Lighningbreaker It's only to make it visible, removing the smoke allows for stealth attacks.
Of course, it works just the same. The smoke just makes it visible and so much cooler to look at ;)
"Secondly, put a hole in the box." I know where this is going...
@Lighningbreaker The smoke is only there to make it visible :) It will work with or without smoke!
@URNScienceShow From such fantastic experiments, have you worked out an optimum box size / aperture diameter for maximum cup destruction at distance?
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.
Cool! How did they generate the smoke?
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
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?
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?
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...
Does there HAVE to be smoke of some sort, or was that just so you could see it happening?
if there was a way to make it silent -> great halloween tricks
I'm going to go make one right now!! Super cool!!
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?
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?
Yeah you can pick similar things up from shops, but making your own is more fun we think!
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.
Please explain this from fluid mechanics aspect. Angular momentum conservation?
The Thundergun is finally explained. Another thing added to ma bucketlist (Make a cannon with the same effects as the Thundergun).
Cool. I assume this is a similar phenomenon to those ring bubble videos people with underwater GoPro cameras are fond of making.
Is the smoke really necessary?!? I really wanna try it.
This is the easiest way to make one. Thanks for sharing. Will give it a try.
Does it need the smoke or is it just there to help guide you?
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!
is adding smoke really necessary for the pushing effect?
It depends on the size of the box! You might have to experiment a bit.
@URNScienceShow Hi, is there a specific ratio to the size of the aperture to dimensions of the box?
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!
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.
Cool!!!!
What's the smoke machine? Pls answer...
Oh with that u can practice "panchira" (upskirt ) but in japan there's natural vortex doing panchira everywhere
Is the smoke necessary or was it only for visual effect?
We get it, you vape
will it go further if the hole is smaller?
What did you put into the box ? Air ?
I can't wait to do this with my son! Thanks!
Yes. Any smoke or powder-like substance will work fine. Have fun!
Is it possible to make a vortex shotgun with multiple smaller holes?
Have you tried different box sizes and different hole sizes and shapes?
It can indeed! We just used smoke to make the rings visible.
As you build you have used??
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."
With the aim of a Storm Trooper O.o
Will that work if I cut hole smaller so i can get bigger range ?
How big does the hole have to be?
where do you get the smoke machine?
George gave me a tour on the Nottingham open day!
I had the same train of though. I was half expecting him to tell us step 3, put your junk in the box.
must make one now!!!
You guys have created fun times!
This is... actually... pretty... fuckin' awesome.
oi lads whats the benefit or a point of this smoke gun? what could it be used for ?
"You can get it from all good forest fires, but I get mine from Sainsbury's." Beardyman reference, anyone? :D
is the smoke required?
That is immense, guys. I know how I'm going to be spending my weekend. :-)
What on earth do 31 people have to dislike about this? It's just so cool. lol
Does It run outside?
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.
Would it work without smoke?
did this at the weekend its well cool
Does it work without smoke?
So you don't actually need smoke then, it's just so you can see it?
Wow it works! :) did the same with my son right after seen that. BTW, does anyone knows how to make safe smoke at home?
@MrDudeBoiMan Wow did you watch the Science Shows Hammer and Feather experiment video? That must explain how clever you are!
65 people's cup pyramid got blown away
Alas, they do. I was shocked too.
Much Enjoyed!
how do you make?
I wish my science class was this cool
am i the only one, or did something just sound like portal when you "shoot" your vortex cannon? (@1:29)
what would happen if u made a smaller hole and copress the air more and make it more powerful
FANTASTIC!
Can you feel it if its fired at you?
How can it be so simple?!
now how often do people have smoke makers
that was AWESOME!
is this smoke that necessary?
what happens when you makes the hole like a square
what is the hole was a triangle or skware or so
whatever size ?
Wow, it's like a proof of concept call of duty zombies thunder gun, plz develop
an electrical version for science for zombie control.