Can water solve a maze?

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  • Опубліковано 30 бер 2023
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 5 тис.

  • @SteveMould
    @SteveMould  Рік тому +2331

    This video explains why I had a blue splodge on my face in the last video!
    The sponsor is 80,000 hours. Head to 80000hours.org/steve to start planning a career that is meaningful, fulfilling, and helps solve one of the world’s most pressing problems.

    • @MatteoMekteusClementel
      @MatteoMekteusClementel Рік тому +7

      Awesome Steve :)

    • @jamesbizs
      @jamesbizs Рік тому +8

      Nah. I’m good. Thanks tho

    • @GamesNTech
      @GamesNTech Рік тому +5

      If you put small holes in the clear acrylic at the "top" of dead end pockets that are sealed it might cause the water to go more places. presumably more water would go down then out of the holes because gravity should still be stronger.

    • @BeeKeeper-
      @BeeKeeper- Рік тому +1

      egg

    • @I86282
      @I86282 Рік тому +5

      Well you know Mercury has a pretty low pressure before boiling. Or you could try making a super fluid. That's always fun.

  • @ElectroBOOM
    @ElectroBOOM Рік тому +31021

    You know what I think can solve the puzzle flowing through the main path right away?? Smoke! Pushing smoke into the puzzle, it will flow through the path of least resistance from the start

    • @KalebPeters99
      @KalebPeters99 Рік тому +3536

      Yeah! And as a bonus it can solve mazes where the exit is above the entrance

    • @aande1
      @aande1 Рік тому +1339

      My guess would be though, that smoke would fill much more of the maze over time, because it doesn't have the surface tension of water.

    • @fred8281
      @fred8281 Рік тому +716

      Yes, that is almost the same as at 6:36 where the pre-filled maze is fed with different colored water. If the air pockets were also pre-filled with water, then it would be exactly the same.

    • @DukeBG
      @DukeBG Рік тому +215

      @Infinity electricity kinda solves a maze in real life all the time - that's how the lightnings get their shapes

    • @kaloyanmarinov525
      @kaloyanmarinov525 Рік тому +94

      If you blow enough capacitors at one end it will create the smoke you need to solve the maze!

  • @thomasschmidt7649
    @thomasschmidt7649 Рік тому +2614

    Realizing every maze has two halves was a surprising revelation I didn’t expect.

    • @elliott614
      @elliott614 Рік тому +95

      Certain types of mazes*

    • @elliott614
      @elliott614 Рік тому +51

      Notice there are no loops in these?

    • @elliott614
      @elliott614 Рік тому +55

      It's actually pretty obvious when you consider a solution must exist and there are no islands

    • @thewiseturtle
      @thewiseturtle Рік тому +100

      AT LEAST two (separate) parts. Not two parts. Many mazes have many separate disconnected walls. (There's no requirement for only having one possible solution in a maze.)

    • @Skyl3t0n
      @Skyl3t0n Рік тому +5

      @@elliott614 That would make it 3 parts.

  • @staticbuilds7613
    @staticbuilds7613 Рік тому +280

    This shows the difference between physical and digital simulations. In digital there is always something overlooked like the ire pressure in this situation which is why its always important to test the digital one on a small scale first.

    • @Freakazoid12345
      @Freakazoid12345 Рік тому +4

      Yup.
      It's interesting that lots of times when I'm reading good info on using a simulation or simulator of/for something it's recommended to do the real thing along with a simulator.
      I have peripherals for simulator games but should probably get rid of them because I don't access to the real world counterpart to get the most out of the simulation.

    • @KuroroSama42
      @KuroroSama42 6 місяців тому +12

      I'd correct that to say "there's usually something overlooked". It's theoretically possible to have a perfect simulation, but can be very hard to do.

    • @Kholdaimon
      @Kholdaimon 5 місяців тому +5

      The point of a making a simulation in science is to put in all the variables that you think effect the outcome and their strengths and interactions and so on and then you compare it with real life observations. And then you expect to find that your simulation is inaccurate at some point and you try to find out what caused that inaccuracy and by finding out you learn something new...
      Simulations are always inaccurate, they are supposed to be, as soon as a simulation is perfectly accurate your field of study is solved, but, so far, there have always been more questions left to answer in any field of study and thus more inaccuracies left to iron out... At in the natural sciences, biology, chemistry, physics, etc. I am not sure, since I am not a mathematician, but I think there are parts of mathematics that are solved...

    • @LutraLovegood
      @LutraLovegood 3 місяці тому +1

      @@Kholdaimon Solved is one thing, but how fast is the simulation? What if you need to run hundreds of simulations for engineering and design?

    • @Kholdaimon
      @Kholdaimon 3 місяці тому +2

      @@LutraLovegood I mean, you never run a simulation once and if it gives the result you want call it done. You always run it hundreds of times so you can do statistical analyses on the results... When I did my research the standard was 1000 iterations of a single set of input parameters and then analyse the results, which took about 3 hours on my fairly good gaming computer, but this was 10 years ago, my current computer would do it A LOT faster...
      The speed depends entirely on the nature of the simulation, some are really fast, others require hours and hours on university owned super computers.

  • @TheFinalRevelation1
    @TheFinalRevelation1 11 місяців тому +923

    Someone should make a free demo and share or code for a 3d simulation, this could be in unity or unreal or something like that.

    • @icravedeath.1200
      @icravedeath.1200 10 місяців тому +9

      Could be a neat water physics simulation to use for games.

    • @jemlap
      @jemlap 10 місяців тому +10

      @@icravedeath.1200 I'm pretty sure UE does offer water simulation. Blender has had physics simulations for a long while now. Don't know about accuracy in a scientific level, but they are more than amazing for what ever I will ever make :D

    • @tonyvisente5286
      @tonyvisente5286 10 місяців тому +7

      If you want a realistic level of simulation you'll probably have to implement the whole rendering engine and physic system by yourself

    • @Catterjeeo
      @Catterjeeo 7 місяців тому +17

      Unity is no longer an option.

  • @i_am_awesome_j
    @i_am_awesome_j Рік тому +5109

    the fact that a maze is two separate pieces blew my mind more than the water maze. It makes perfect sense but I have never thought of that!

    • @EvoSteve89
      @EvoSteve89 Рік тому +163

      100% lol, same here! I never thought of that and I STILL can't wrap my head around *WHY* that is, lol

    • @SageofPHY6Paths
      @SageofPHY6Paths Рік тому +10

      +1

    • @EgaTehPro
      @EgaTehPro Рік тому +37

      I'm confused why it has to be two pieces?

    • @EgaTehPro
      @EgaTehPro Рік тому +211

      Oh, right, because one of them never touches the other.

    • @SajtosNokedli
      @SajtosNokedli Рік тому +44

      It can be made of 3 pieces or 4 pieces or 5 pieces

  • @Solstice_AC
    @Solstice_AC Рік тому +2490

    Directly to the experiments in less than 1 minute, now this is the channel that deserves to be popular.

    • @jerronimo3000
      @jerronimo3000 Рік тому +76

      Legitimately almost didn't click because I didn't want to sit through 8 minutes of "hype" for an underwhelming reveal at the end of the video.
      This was not that, and I was pleasantly surprised

    • @minamy
      @minamy Рік тому +12

      i mean it kinda is, not everyone has 2m subs

    • @unknownfall
      @unknownfall Рік тому +3

      its just straight to the damn point

    • @danx9194
      @danx9194 Рік тому +1

      Yeah just forward the video 9 waste of time minutes

    • @Freakazoid12345
      @Freakazoid12345 Рік тому +1

      I love experiments.

  • @IronsAtlas
    @IronsAtlas 3 місяці тому +7

    Nice, now the alligator can finally have his shower

  • @lazydk2654
    @lazydk2654 Рік тому +30

    Regarding the 2 paths leasing to 3 walls you can 'hug'. It still works holding the hand on a wall, if you do so when you enter the maze. The 3rd middle part that loops wont be one of the walls at the entrance. So unless walls are shifting its a pretty safe approach

  • @mikefochtman7164
    @mikefochtman7164 Рік тому +7116

    Regarding surface tension, try solving the smaller maze with 'wetter' water. Reduce the surface tension of water by dissolving some alcohol in it. :) Might be interesting with different fluids as well.

    • @Yozo_official
      @Yozo_official Рік тому +214

      Smart

    • @SteveMould
      @SteveMould  Рік тому +3405

      Or pure alcohol, or add soap. Great idea!

    • @ericmoss6110
      @ericmoss6110 Рік тому +542

      @@SteveMould Or superfluid helium-4! 😂

    • @davidellison4750
      @davidellison4750 Рік тому +68

      I saw soap bubbles in your red/blue section so assume you used a detergent or other surfactant.

    • @Kram1032
      @Kram1032 Рік тому +171

      @@ericmoss6110 omg, superfluid helium would be an amazing test as it also can crawl *up* - it'd presumably solve the maze pretty much exactly by the keep-hand-on-wall method.
      That said, if water was already a difficult thing to seal against, helium manages to be nigh impossible lol

  • @billyruss
    @billyruss Рік тому +1224

    I had never thought of a maze being in two halves - and yet it's so obvious when you think about it! Steve is like the Johnny Ball of the digital age 🙂

    • @DavidGuild
      @DavidGuild Рік тому +64

      Not only that, but the solution is exactly the path between the two halves. (I think. Proving this is left as an exercise for the reader.)

    • @billyruss
      @billyruss Рік тому +18

      @@DavidGuild Yea! I got that once I got that it was in two halves - just never thought of either of those things until I watched this! I love the way his videos make you look at everyday things in a new way 🙂

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 Рік тому +55

      It's for the same reason why there can't be any two-dimensional beings. Their digestive system would just cut them in half.

    • @JoseAlcerreca
      @JoseAlcerreca Рік тому

      @@lonestarr1490 What about the top of the head? 🤔

    • @kilianvounckx9904
      @kilianvounckx9904 Рік тому +32

      ​@@lonestarr1490octopuses eat and poop through the same hole, so it could work

  • @Alexand3ry
    @Alexand3ry 10 місяців тому +8

    Maze-solving algorithm for red water:
    1. Find someone who solved the maze with blue water
    2. Copy their homework

  • @triffinne
    @triffinne 10 місяців тому +8

    I came here from the short to ask what would happen if you put dye in after it was solved, very glad to see that it worked exactly as I expected! Thank you for doing more than just answering the face question and thinking of more interesting things that can happen in the situation!

  • @CarzyNavi
    @CarzyNavi Рік тому +299

    Flood fill just got real

    • @Yozo_official
      @Yozo_official Рік тому +4

      Indeed

    • @Sam-rx8wd
      @Sam-rx8wd Рік тому

      How do I do flood fill with voxels as fast as possible

  • @davidellison4750
    @davidellison4750 Рік тому +149

    I loved the solution of cutting slots in the upper acrylic plate to allow the solvent to reach the surfaces you wanted to solvent weld.

    • @rofltehcat
      @rofltehcat Рік тому +4

      For the smaller maze, you can just fill a flat metal/ceramic tray with just barely enough solvent to cover the bottom. Then put the maze into it with the side you want to solvent weld. Leave it in there for like 10-30 seconds. Then take it out, and set it onto the panel you want to weld it to. Because the maze is so finicky, I'd still do the first side with the syringe.
      This process works for all kinds of parts and actually tends to give a cleaner, more even, weld. However, since you're using laser-cut pieces you'll have plenty of micro-cracks in them after getting them into contact with solvent (unless you tempered them afterwards), they are probably just hard to see in the black acrylic.
      For large pieces this works too but of course you'd need a pretty large tray (or one custom-made for the job) and a lot of solvent. You also don't need to actually submerge the pieces, just lowering them until the solvent pulls itself onto the welding surface is actually better (because it only coats the surface and because the solvent doesn't get squeezed out) but a bit finicky, you might be able to put some uncoated steel wires into it as an offset.
      Source: Sometimes do this at work, but for most pieces the syringe method works just fine.

    • @anggyvannesaarteagadiaz2113
      @anggyvannesaarteagadiaz2113 Місяць тому

      7oq

  • @100StepProgram
    @100StepProgram 10 місяців тому +3

    This is the first video ever where I saw the short, thought it was cool and actually watched the real video. That’s how good your content is

  • @chrisko1
    @chrisko1 Рік тому +11

    If you get stuck in the Backrooms- just flood it

    • @inimmz
      @inimmz Місяць тому +1

      gonna have to find a lottt of water for that

  • @Kwaq84
    @Kwaq84 Рік тому +922

    There are couple of important things this experiment shows, especially when dye is added. It shows what happens when there are unused lines in water delivery piping (like for example building hydrants sharing same line with tap water). It can become breeding ground for bacterias, eg. Legionella, despite water moving, and that's why it's important to use backflow prevention valves.

    • @KnugLidi
      @KnugLidi Рік тому +54

      'water age' is indeed a critical factor in delivery quality water. This is why municipalities and other agencies controlling water supply model and test for water age as part of the design of new expansions to an existing system. Areas of known longer ages, are regularly flushed. Additionally, modifications to the distribution system can help eliminate these regions. one tool in this fight is preventing a dendritic (tree-root) branching of the system. By carefully utilizing loops and and multiple paths, it is possible to significantly reduce water age.

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L Рік тому +20

      This is also why I always run the tap until the water is genuinely cold, to ensure it’s not been sitting around for who knows how long in the building or the street. Sometimes it happens quickly when there must be high turnover but sometimes it takes a few minutes.

    • @KnugLidi
      @KnugLidi Рік тому +10

      @@kaitlyn__L Temperature isn't a bad guide, although the 'new' water from the street (which is buried, so likely cooler) will have to cool your warmer piping down, so once you feel the temp start to drop, you've likely got 'fresher' street water at the tap

    • @karol30660
      @karol30660 Рік тому +11

      That's why I don't trust the campaigns that say that water treatment is so good that you can drink straight from the tap. I do believe that the water from the treatment plant is great, but there's no way I trust those pipes between them and my flat, not to mention those in the building itself.

    • @KnugLidi
      @KnugLidi Рік тому +36

      @@karol30660 I'm sorry that you distrust your water distribution system. I would suggest you sample your own water from your own tap and have it tested (at your own cost) against your national drinking water standards at a private, independent lab for your own peace of mind. If, in the unlikely event that your water falls outside of the national standards, your local distribution maintaining agency will be VERY interested in your results.

  • @webkinskid
    @webkinskid Рік тому +112

    man, you really nailed the lighting on the larger mazes, the contrast of the "walls" is perfect

  • @abrahimabd1657
    @abrahimabd1657 Місяць тому +2

    Not only water but also gravity

  • @SaliasLeRounard
    @SaliasLeRounard 2 місяці тому +3

    That was very nice !!! Coming from the shirt and absolutely loved that you thought about phone users and used the tool to link to this bigger video ❤

  • @__-cd9ug
    @__-cd9ug Рік тому +335

    That last part is so interesting. Blue water has figured out the maze and now the red water can go directly to the end with virtually no loss

    • @janbam1778
      @janbam1778 Рік тому +7

      I wonder if there's some kind of force(?) flowing upstream from the end to the start??

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 Рік тому +40

      @@janbam1778 A negative pressure difference, basically. Like pulling water through a drinking straw.

    • @whannabi
      @whannabi Рік тому +4

      If it was a human sized maze maybe we could follow the current and also get out

    • @FirstLast-gw5mg
      @FirstLast-gw5mg Рік тому +28

      The blue water is basically doing the same thing that the air did in the smaller maze. It's blocking the "wrong" paths, and instead of surface tension, there's just the boundary between two liquids of the same density - they're not going to mix very much at all in such a small time frame, so it's basically just a question of whether the blue water has anywhere to go when the red water pushes against it.

    • @unfa00
      @unfa00 Рік тому +11

      That's because the 1st pass water has blocked off all the dead ends, making it so any pressure can only be relieved directly towards the exit.

  • @LucasFroitzheim
    @LucasFroitzheim Рік тому +598

    I love by the way how you included the animation clip at the beginning but still motivated us to watch the original which supports its creator. Just love it

    • @EEEEEEEE
      @EEEEEEEE Рік тому +1

      ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎E

    • @redfyresasoiaf
      @redfyresasoiaf Рік тому +17

      Also that he wasn't 'shaming' the animation creator (for lack of a better word) for not having realistic graphics but instead said things along the lines of 'he animated something I can't recreate'.

  • @XvoseEthereal
    @XvoseEthereal Рік тому +8

    This is amazing. You could hypothetically have a huge containment of water with multiple maze plugs of different tensions to simulate different distributions instead of larger or smaller ducts

  • @rhythmtreble7311
    @rhythmtreble7311 Рік тому +15

    I had a feeling it would be surface tension being too strong for the water to overcome it. You present your paradoxes and caviats in such a good manner its more like an assist than me just knowing it

  • @mjw7994
    @mjw7994 Рік тому +391

    Regarding using the "hand on one wall" method to go through a multipath maze, as long as you pick a wall right at the entrance then you should still always find your way out. Any extra paths would create a third piece to the maze, but by necessity it would have to be in between the two outer parts which must be the two parts bisected by the entrance and exit.

    • @JuniperHatesTwitterlikeHandles
      @JuniperHatesTwitterlikeHandles Рік тому +28

      I wrote a longer comment about this but also if there are 2 entrances and 2 exits, you must find a path from an entrance to an exit, and the paths between each entrance and the exits connect, there is a chance the wall you follow will lead you on a path between the two entrances instead of to an exit, but that's the only thing I can think of that would defeat the algorithm, barring dropping someone in the middle of the maze instead of starting them at an entrance... or having no paths from the entrance to an exit, obv.

    • @dreadlindwyrm
      @dreadlindwyrm Рік тому +25

      @@JuniperHatesTwitterlikeHandles You can theoretically have traps and one way doors in a real maze, so that you can go through a particular section one way, but not leave through the same area - meaning that you'll get trapped in the section beyond the one way door.
      Or you place the exit in the "middle" part by having a tunnel up or down from one of the rooms that's only accessible through the third part of the maze.

    • @LunaliBrighteyes
      @LunaliBrighteyes Рік тому +7

      Another solution I've seen in real world mazes is to have checkpoints in the maze that have to be reached for the maze to be considered complete.

    • @coryzilligen790
      @coryzilligen790 Рік тому +20

      This only works if the starting point is along the outer wall of the maze (which is _generally_ the case, but not necessarily). If you are starting from a random location within the middle of the maze, then you have no way of knowing whether the wall you touch would be connected to the exit or not.

    • @jonahzurn527
      @jonahzurn527 Рік тому +11

      It is also possible for the exit to the maze to be a staircase or ladder or something which is placed within the maze. That would mean that you could follow the outer wall in a complete loop and never find the exit.

  • @donaldasayers
    @donaldasayers Рік тому +275

    With your second complicated, big maze, I don't think it is surface tension but an air lock, the path repeatedly goes up then down so if there is a bubble in each up bit, it requires a minimum head of water to overcome the sum of the uphill parts.

  • @drbasil
    @drbasil Рік тому +37

    As a physicist, I must say that it looks oddly satisfying (and accurate). This is the first time I see this channel btw. Immediate subscription activated 😌

  • @PlayWithKeyboard
    @PlayWithKeyboard 11 місяців тому +2

    Some maze only can be solved by water. Example: ua-cam.com/video/rzP517Kvd8Y/v-deo.html

  • @sthenzel
    @sthenzel Рік тому +895

    The "keep your right hand on a wall" always works, IF you start doing so from the entrance!
    A maze may have two or more paths to the exit and therefore has more than two wall structures, but it will always have just two outside ones.

    • @andrehil
      @andrehil Рік тому +3

      I thought the same thing!

    • @thehunters3402
      @thehunters3402 Рік тому +51

      Actually it doesn’t work at all if there are any floating walls in the maze, as in walls that don’t connect to the outside. Left or right wall doesn’t matter. Sometimes the floating wall is obvious and sometimes it’s not. Oh, and it only works if you can touch the outside wall directly from the entrance.

    • @sthenzel
      @sthenzel Рік тому +73

      @@thehunters3402 At the entrance there is always an outside wall! It may be part of a 'floating' wall, yes, but then there´s more than one entrance. In that case, switch the same hand to the other wall of the newfound entrance.

    • @thehunters3402
      @thehunters3402 Рік тому +6

      @@sthenzel I know. Just expanding on the conversation because that’s what I like to do.

    • @christopherwellman2364
      @christopherwellman2364 Рік тому +3

      I've always wanted to map the Paris Catacombs by spray painting a white line along the right wall.

  • @JonFehr
    @JonFehr Рік тому +461

    If you wanted to simulate the simulation you could put a small vent hole at the top of each isolated section of the geometry and then just cover/plug the hole once water starts leaking out of the venting hole. That should be easily done in the larger versions and you just need something like flex tape to cover the vents. it won't look as pretty but the physics should work.

    • @SilverLining1
      @SilverLining1 Рік тому +55

      Obligatory flex tape meme here

    • @3d_dean975
      @3d_dean975 Рік тому +39

      Putting in a air release valve would also work so he could avoid manually covering the holes

    • @robpet198
      @robpet198 Рік тому +27

      Also, by treating every maze surface by a hydrophobic repellent, you could reduce the surface tension friction. Would be fun to see the results and how they compare to the vacuum simulation 🙂

    • @YoungGandalf2325
      @YoungGandalf2325 Рік тому +7

      Wouldn't that be like creating a maze with multiple exits or paths? Not really a maze?

    • @cyberwomble7524
      @cyberwomble7524 Рік тому +27

      @@YoungGandalf2325 See them as emergency exits and hang little "no exit, staff only" signs on them. The air can be considered staff.

  • @davidb8185
    @davidb8185 Рік тому +1

    I have wondered about this for a long time. Wondered but never quite sure if I could build it. Thank you for building and showing it.
    For the surface tension try adding soap.

  • @nancy4289
    @nancy4289 Рік тому +2

    Great job Steve... I see all your videos.... And you explain a complex concept in easy way..... ❤️❤️

  • @user-jn4sw3iw4h
    @user-jn4sw3iw4h Рік тому +526

    5:40
    True,
    if you only start using the 'hand on wall'-tactic as a backup plan, after you've already been in the maze for a while a multi-solution one can trap you.
    Doing so from the start will work (for any 2 dimensional maze, where 'out the other side' is the goal. Get to the centerpiece artwork (or staircase to the exit-tunnel), are made out of 1 piece and may loop you back to the entrance )

    • @annana6098
      @annana6098 Рік тому +36

      If you're able to mark the walls in any way at all, if you loop back to the same point on the wall, you are following a center wall that doesn't connect to the entrance or exit. Switch to the wall opposite and follow that one. If necessary, just keep mapping these interior walls until you get to a wall that leads to the entrance or exit. I follow walls all the time in games to fully explore areas and find places I've missed. If you're in a maze in real life and you fear you don't have all the time in the world to walk around--definitely find a way to mark your exploration or break yourself out of there.

    • @EEEEEEEE
      @EEEEEEEE Рік тому +5

      ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎E

    • @yaboynotnut5386
      @yaboynotnut5386 Рік тому

      @@EEEEEEEE real

  • @lqr824
    @lqr824 Рік тому +554

    5:28 Even in a multiply-connected maze (one with multiple successful paths), you can be sure that the walls of the ENTRYWAY will be the walls of the exit, as long as the entry and exit are on the outside border of the maze. I didn't realize that until you showed your "coloring the walls" at 2:50 then mentioned that two paths would create a middle part. That middle part won't be the left or right wall of the entrance, but would necessarily be an "island" in the middle. The interesting thing is that you can't just wander around and decide later to use this algorithm: you need to commit to it at the very entrance to the maze. And, it only works if the exit is also on an external wall, not say a stairs in the middle of the level, or say a goal or treasure of some kind not adjacent to an exterior wall.

    • @pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042
      @pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042 Рік тому +9

      This doesn't work in 3d mazes (multi-level)

    • @tcxd1164
      @tcxd1164 Рік тому +5

      Though generally not a problem, if you're starting from the middle of a maze (e.g. you're blindfolded and carried to the starting point, or you forgot to use the strategy until later), then there'd be no guarantee.

    • @lqr824
      @lqr824 Рік тому +9

      @@tcxd1164 I explained that in detail.

    • @tcxd1164
      @tcxd1164 Рік тому +3

      @@lqr824 yeah, I reread that more clearly after I already posted the reply, but oh well.

    • @rubenbohorquez5673
      @rubenbohorquez5673 10 місяців тому +2

      It could also be the case that the exit/goal is somewhere in the middle of the maze, and there's only one entrance/exit, then it could be made of a single piece and thus following a wall will take you around the entire maze (including both entrance and exit)

  • @AnAfinityForKarma
    @AnAfinityForKarma 8 місяців тому

    Came from your short, they're working - this is awesome :)

  • @Hunting380
    @Hunting380 Рік тому +7

    I cant believe how many things I learned from this. I was not expecting this much from a "pouring water in maze" video! 😃

  • @macronencer
    @macronencer Рік тому +583

    Love this! Mazes were "my thing" at school. We had exercise books with squared paper in them for maths, and I used to draw mazes all the time, so I became really familiar with a lot of stuff about them. The "stick to one wall" rule is a good window into some of them, as it makes you think about where the entrance and exit might be (could be in the middle), whether it still works with multiple entrances, whether there's a way to use it to escape a maze if you start in a random spot (there are algorithms that can eliminate dead ends as you go, but they require some sort of memory or external modification)...
    A third dimension also stirs things up. The maze at Longleat in England (which was the largest in Europe in the 1980s, not sure whether it still is) has six bridges that go over the hedge paths. This allows you to see some of the connectivity from above, which people imagine might help - but the presence of the bridges also makes the topology more sneaky and the maze harder.
    I LOVE MAZES! Cool to see your construction skills applied to them like this. Excellent video.

    • @chrisakaschulbus4903
      @chrisakaschulbus4903 Рік тому +8

      And now you could generate big mazes in minecraft and explore them in virtual reality... yes, the world is crazy like that today.

    • @nikelsad
      @nikelsad Рік тому +1

      @@chrisakaschulbus4903 do you mean a particular mod for mazes?

    • @chrisakaschulbus4903
      @chrisakaschulbus4903 Рік тому +6

      @@nikelsad I made mazes with server plugins a couple years back. There are also "picture to schematic converters". So combining that with a normal image maze generator should also be possible. Particular mods or names i don't have, though.
      I only generate mazes for CNC laser action.

    • @muenchhausenmusic
      @muenchhausenmusic Рік тому +1

      Dude, that sounds awesome!! I think one day I'll make this a birthday trip for my ex-girlfriend. She also loves everything logic-related. This christmas I gave her the hardest version of the Perplexus 3D labyrinth, she fucking loved it and tried cracking it for a over a whole day 😊 Have you heard of those? They are more about the motor skill to bring the ball through the maze. The hardest one is actually pretty hard!
      Thanks for the unintended present idea 😉

    • @macronencer
      @macronencer Рік тому +1

      @@muenchhausenmusic You're welcome! Yes, I think I know the puzzle you're referring to. I don't have one but I think I've tried it once.

  • @bugsuck11
    @bugsuck11 Рік тому +945

    I actually used this once in a dnd campaign. Our DM put us in a huge mirror maze room. Using a combination of a few magic items, I made a torrential downpour of water and we waited a minute before following the flow

    • @niek280
      @niek280 Рік тому +47

      That’s clever, love it!

    • @ShiningDarknes
      @ShiningDarknes Рік тому +59

      How did you keep it from back-flowing out of the maze? I mean this method only really works because of the verticality of the maze making it so the water cannot simply flow back out of the entrance. You would likely need way more than a minute in order for the water to rise to the point where you could detect a flow is a big room. My solution to DM's throwing mazes at casters is always just fucking blow through it or use divination magic to scout the correct path, ain't nobody got time for that.

    • @sethb3090
      @sethb3090 Рік тому +13

      ​@@ShiningDarknes I play as a ratfolk, so I have an unfair advantage

    • @ShiningDarknes
      @ShiningDarknes Рік тому +2

      @@sethb3090 how so?

    • @niek280
      @niek280 Рік тому +8

      @@ShiningDarknes Why wouldn't you exit through the entrance, as long as you get out right?

  • @ayyjsanders9319
    @ayyjsanders9319 10 місяців тому

    I honestly forgot about u my guy! I’m subbed but haven’t seen ur vids in a while and then boom here u are again lol so glad ur still actively asking content

  • @itzfraggle9620
    @itzfraggle9620 11 місяців тому +3

    This is actually very similar to how valve bodies work in automatic transmissions. Great stuff!

  • @aniasparkle
    @aniasparkle Рік тому +118

    Why are the water videos always the best?
    Watching this is so soothing. I feel like someone could make an entire channel of just water mazes.

  • @nerfherder4284
    @nerfherder4284 Рік тому +119

    This video actually made me realize that if you just try to visualize how the maze is in two pieces it becomes easier to solve visually. Pretty cool! I also think it works how a siphon works.

    • @howardbaxter2514
      @howardbaxter2514 Рік тому +4

      It’s also why if you keep going right, or keep going left, you will always solve the maze. Unless, of course, the maze is broken up into more than 2 parts.

    • @howardbaxter2514
      @howardbaxter2514 Рік тому +3

      Which, by the way, knowing such information is good for you in emergency situations. If you are ever in a building under evacuation and it is pitch black inside, put your hand up against the wall and follow it. You will eventually reach a door and/or window.

    • @crackspider101
      @crackspider101 Рік тому +4

      @@howardbaxter2514 Yeah, but it might only be an internal door...

  • @modolief
    @modolief 10 місяців тому

    Fantastic! Really great idea and excellent follow through to complete video. And A+ narration.
    Thanks 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

  • @YetiCat28
    @YetiCat28 10 місяців тому

    What earned my sub? Was it the in depth and interesting explanation? Was it the amazing content and engineering? Sure these helped, but I can find them on most channels. No, the thing that has earned you my sub was the innovation, ideas, and problem solving you had on the side: Like mazes being two pieces or laser cutting holes in the 3rd layer.
    You make great stuff, so keep it up. Bravo Steve!

  • @PeaceOutNewYork
    @PeaceOutNewYork Рік тому +163

    I really think you should look into getting the big versions of the mazes into a gallery. They are really beautiful art pieces against that white background. The blue liquid is really radiant

  • @bergmanjoe7886
    @bergmanjoe7886 Рік тому +61

    @SteveMould What a great video! It was cool to see how fluids actually travels through a maze with real world physics. Also What a great sponsor. 80,000 hours was something I didn't know about till now and I'm going to look at that organization ASAP.

    • @TippyHippy
      @TippyHippy Рік тому +1

      l put my hamster in a sock and slammed it against the furniture.

  • @HadiAlbinni
    @HadiAlbinni 11 місяців тому +5

    The water in the tank came to a halt like a car going uphill with its engine’s torque just short of power. The water in the maze needed more weight pushing down so it could push up all those nooks and crannies and fight against gravity and surface tension alike. Truly fascinating. :)

  • @tokyovoice8835
    @tokyovoice8835 6 місяців тому +8

    The title of the UA-cam video (Maze Vol.01 Simulation) is a maze simulation using OpenFOAM.
    Channel subscriber: Take Den [OpenFOAM & Blender]

  • @tundernan1
    @tundernan1 Рік тому +33

    Hey Steve, I do quite a bit of solved welding acrylic. For the second half you can do the dip soak method, where you 'soak' the acrylic in a thin puddle of solvent (such as in a custom HDPE or PTFE tray) and then clamp it to the 2nd clear acrylic part. Great video!

    • @SteveMould
      @SteveMould  Рік тому +1

      That’s basically what I did for the smaller ones! Question for you: is it a good idea to soak for a long time? I just dipped.

    • @tundernan1
      @tundernan1 Рік тому

      @@SteveMould Yes, you would want to soak the acrylic in the solvent to soften it, making it tacky so that when you make contact and clamp with the other piece of acrylic the two will bond in the same way that applying the solvent via capillary action does. Soak time will depend on a couple of different factors such as if the acrylic is cast vs extruded, if it has any colorants or co-polymers in it, and which solvent weld you are using (I am assuming you are probably using weld-on 3 or 4 or some other dichloromethane base solvent), and what clamping pressure you are using. You'll need to play around and find what works for you, but I would start with a 15 second soak and go from there.
      Since you are using lasercut acrylic, you'll need to be extra mindful of the acrylic crazing when you do this. You may need to anneal your parts before soaking, but I hope you can get away with not annealing since it can deform and change the dimensions of the part. The stresses in the crystalline lattice near the cut edge (the cause of crazing) are built up differently between laser cutters depending on the ambient temperatures, speed of the air assist, etc. If you are able to stop the cut edge from cooling as rapidly that will help with the crazing. The easiest way to do this is to lower the airflow of the air assist.

  • @grell9296
    @grell9296 Рік тому +150

    You've scaled up one of the dimensions of the system without scaling any of the other relevant variables (viscocity, density, simulation time). Neat to see how the system changes from that one input.
    I'd be interested to see this run by scaling all of the relevant variables to keep the system's relevant dimensionless numbers the same (reynolds number, etc). Would make for a great fluid dynamics example. Smarter every day or veritasium did a video on a boat research that talks about this a little
    EDIT: It's veritasium's video at a naval wave generator

  • @Spearmeat638
    @Spearmeat638 9 місяців тому +3

    This is a visualization of Parallel Breadth-First Search, which is quite interesting. With multiple molecules in the water (a vast number), it can search for the shortest path simultaneously. The BFS search also has the advantage of finding the optimal solution.
    As mentioned in the video, the air pressure prevents the water from going the wrong way, making it very different from the maze-solving video. However, that simulation can also be like the real world by adding some functions. Typically, the maze-solving agents we see in videos can only sense if their nearest cell is open or closed. But in this situation, thanks to the air pressure, it can sense much further. Have no idea how to implement the sensing feature, it can be done somehow.
    For anyone wondering about implementing this algorithm...

  • @f1lt3r
    @f1lt3r 6 місяців тому +1

    Neat! I would love to see a b-side of this where once the maze has been solved by the water, seal the exit and then see how much water pressure it would take in the tank to force all of the air bubbles out of their pockets

  • @AmericanCube
    @AmericanCube Рік тому +92

    Doing satisfying experiments and explaining the science at the same time is great. Keep up the good work!

  • @bobthegoat7090
    @bobthegoat7090 Рік тому +21

    This is a great analogy for another phenomenon. I remember when people were very surprised when slime mold could solve mazes. Were they really clever enough to find that out? No, they simply did the same thing as the water. They went everywhere, but when they reached a dead end, the slime mold that followed that path would simply die, as it was not part of the shortest path.

  • @dalehorton7748
    @dalehorton7748 Рік тому

    I do have to give you credit, this video was *brilliant* timing with these growing questions about the nature of intelligence and problem solving.
    "Solving a maze" appears to be a lot of work, a huge number of decisions that all must be made correctly, and at each decision point there may be a varying amount of information available about the rest of the maze. You can analyze the water in the maze this way, at this junction there is a pocket of air pressure preventing it from travelling out that way, at this junction it will pool until it overflows, etc, and talk about how it "solved" the challenge - but no "decisions" were made, it didnt "think".
    i'm starting to wonder if a valid definition for life could be something wayyy more generic than we ever thought, like "A system that has the capability to act in an unexpected way in order to achieve a desired goal."
    Which would mean a) AI is already alive, and b) its ungovernable once it has any kind of reward system, at least in terms of the alignment problem.
    FWIW the "cheat" my statement relies on is that a "desired goal" implies that the agent has some element of self determination, which means that's the more atomic component here, and the true quandary.

  • @yomyomcam
    @yomyomcam 10 місяців тому

    Water solving mazes would make a perfect relaxing/satisfying video!

  • @Ole_Rasmussen
    @Ole_Rasmussen Рік тому +12

    This was very satisfying to watch. I like that you mention the little details you discover/know along the way

  • @jordanfranck
    @jordanfranck 8 місяців тому

    This was WAY more interesting than I thought it was going to be

  • @jasonaranda3176
    @jasonaranda3176 7 місяців тому

    Very interesting, it is amazing how something can put something else into perspective. This is why lightning strikes the way it does, and makes so much sense now.

  • @Magrior
    @Magrior Рік тому +105

    Definitely one of these concepts that I never would've thought about on my own but are really interesting if someone brings them up.
    If you wouldn't mind the mess, you could maybe drill small holes near the top of the "air chambers", so the water could push the air out of the maze and get closer to bergman's simulation?

    • @nico4331
      @nico4331 Рік тому +9

      and connect them to tubes pointing upwards so the pressure would equilibrate and you don't have blue liquid everywhere :)

    • @arsniy
      @arsniy Рік тому +1

      I think, that mercury could solve this problem

    • @2bfrank657
      @2bfrank657 11 місяців тому +1

      ​@@nico4331 this is the solution. Just need the tubes to reach higher than the top tank and you'll have no problem with water escaping that way.

  • @KevinCrouch0
    @KevinCrouch0 Рік тому +29

    I absolutely LOVE that this had unexpected turns, like just completely ignoring whole sections because air pressure kept them out
    Also interesting that near the end for a while, the air was bubbling up from extraneous sections and pushing some water towards the exit (again because of air pressure!)

  • @johkonut
    @johkonut 9 місяців тому

    Lots of really cool tidbits but i was really impressed with the slit idea for the solvent

  • @123JDA123
    @123JDA123 2 місяці тому

    Steve, have you considered repeating the water maze experiments using vacuum pressure? This is commonly done when filling products with oil or dielectric fluid that will be used underwater, where the fluid will be kept at external pressure and separated from the water using a flexible membrane or bladder. It is important to remove enough air so that bladder will not break when external pressure is high. A vacuum is applied during the filling process to remove air, but the amount it can remove is a function of multiple things, such as geometry, density, head, vacuum level, external air pressure, viscosity, and surface tension. It is more complicated to do than it looks.

  • @_mycroftxxxadamselene922
    @_mycroftxxxadamselene922 Рік тому +204

    Always impressed at how
    Steve manages to make something that seems simple, so interesting and educational.
    AND, I am in my 70's.

    • @davidandrew7314
      @davidandrew7314 Рік тому +14

      You are not in your 70s lmao. Your channel gives you away instantly.

    • @nooooooooooooodle
      @nooooooooooooodle Рік тому +1

      I'm surprised you didn't put this in your "Interesting" playlist, you might want to do that

    • @TheoSur
      @TheoSur Рік тому +2

      ​​@@davidandrew7314 maybe it's a very childish grandpa who knows

    • @_mycroftxxxadamselene922
      @_mycroftxxxadamselene922 Рік тому +1

      @@davidandrew7314 You are only as old as you feel?

    • @JustAPersonWhoComments
      @JustAPersonWhoComments Рік тому +2

      Ur pfp lol 💀

  • @PodoHelmer
    @PodoHelmer Рік тому +42

    Science usually makes me want my head to implode but you make is sound so fun! Your tone of voice and accent and way of explaining is just perfect, love this video, you got a new subscriber!

  • @filipechesco
    @filipechesco 2 місяці тому

    Also worth noting that both layouts have the entrance on top and the exit on the bottom
    It's nice to think about other layouts (eg. entrance on left and exit on right). It'll probably not solve some layouts due to air bubbles on some sections

  • @monama9763
    @monama9763 9 місяців тому

    Awesome illustration!

  • @SathvickSatish
    @SathvickSatish Рік тому +72

    This is actually quite cool. Reminds me of how water in minecraft also does pathfinding.

    • @mcmarkmarkson7115
      @mcmarkmarkson7115 Рік тому

      More like gravity doing its work

    • @kebien6020
      @kebien6020 Рік тому +1

      ​@@mcmarkmarkson7115 and air pressure. And surface tension for the smaller ones. The only one where gravity does the work alone is in the simulation

    • @mcmarkmarkson7115
      @mcmarkmarkson7115 Рік тому +1

      @@kebien6020 air pressure is also gravity related though. Like what makes water move and air move?
      Maybe I'm being too pedantic, don't take it too serious.

    • @Femaiden
      @Femaiden Рік тому +4

      i myself was thinking of terraria, like with the air pockets, how you can dig sideways and then dig upward to creste an air pocket to avoid drowning

    • @kebien6020
      @kebien6020 Рік тому

      @@mcmarkmarkson7115 only atmospheric air pressure comes from gravity. The one involved into not letting water in on some sections of the maze despite gravity pushing the water in that direction is not atmospheric air pressure.

  • @usnluna1395
    @usnluna1395 Рік тому +23

    dude this was pretty dang good. you dont know how hard it is trying to explain how water works to people. and this video is gonna help them understand with a visual.

  • @jamesbeard5513
    @jamesbeard5513 11 місяців тому +2

    This seems like a clearer example on why there are sometimes air pockets in caves and other such areas. Interesting

  • @Jack-to7ur
    @Jack-to7ur 7 місяців тому

    Water always knows the answer😉
    Thx for good video! it was really interesting idea and video to watch!

  • @hurkyl1560
    @hurkyl1560 Рік тому +174

    That reminds me of the trope you see in fiction all the time, where people navigate out of a mazelike cave system by following a breeze.

    • @alm2187
      @alm2187 Рік тому +13

      The air doesn't smell so foul?
      When in doubt, Pippin, always follow your nose? 🙂

    • @EEEEEEEE
      @EEEEEEEE Рік тому

      ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎E

    • @dagr84
      @dagr84 Рік тому

      This is exactly what's happening here. You could follow the breeze.

  • @karkinissan
    @karkinissan Рік тому +7

    I love how straightforward the video was. Thank you for getting right to the point and not wandering around.

  • @MrMoo272
    @MrMoo272 Місяць тому

    It may sound hard but someone needs to do it. I have every faith in you steve, cant wait for your vacuum water maze video 😁

  • @brunoragazinski
    @brunoragazinski Рік тому

    This is one the most interesting videos I've seen in a long time

  • @1Chitus
    @1Chitus Рік тому +57

    This is fascinating, really nice work on constructing the mazes too.

  • @markdesolate
    @markdesolate Рік тому +15

    "maybe i can try with a liquid that doesnt boil in vacuum, but that is hard". I think you found a new problem to solve😂. Lovely video, thanks😊

  • @scoon2117
    @scoon2117 7 місяців тому

    This itched a scratch in my brain i didnt know i had. I would buy these.

  • @Gamesmarts194
    @Gamesmarts194 5 місяців тому

    I think it'd be an interesting experiment to see how it'd solve a maze with a different exit location. Instead of an exit at the bottom it could be on the sides, or even going back through the top, or heck maybe instead of one of the sides it could be somewhere IN the maze.
    Maybe also different maze and wall shapes could be cool too. (Dunno if that'd hav any different results, I just think it'd look really cool.)

  • @sandrajones1609
    @sandrajones1609 Рік тому +15

    Your casts are uniquely appealing... information presented in a manner we can participate in... solve/understand what we are experiencing 😁 Much gratitude for your energy ❣️

  • @PHOONDAYUANMoe
    @PHOONDAYUANMoe Рік тому +18

    Every now and then I find videos like these that are on more of the complicated side of things and they really intrigue me. It just scratches the right spot on my brain to keep watching

  • @Razer_-fe9mo
    @Razer_-fe9mo 11 місяців тому

    This would be a good physics game type of thing. I could watch this for hours, literal hours.

  • @tips4truckers252
    @tips4truckers252 Рік тому

    Loved the hand on one wall tip

  • @vgtgoat
    @vgtgoat Рік тому +7

    I think you're the content creator I've followed the longest, maybe 10+ years now. Can't believe you're still producing really interesting stuff

  • @lucarkirb
    @lucarkirb Рік тому +37

    Its always a joy to see your 2d liquid models!

  • @inorite4553
    @inorite4553 11 місяців тому

    It's not the surface tension that's keeping the upper tank from draining throughout the entire maze. It's that the maze you created is a closed and sealed system.
    The surface tension in the first place you pointed out is not enough to hold back the flow of the tank by itself. But what is enough to hold back that water is that each individual air pocket is a pressure element that needs to be 'pushed' so that the water can move.
    Remember folks, Air is a fluid too so not only does the water ( a fluid) need to move, but it needs to push the air (also a fluid) out of the way. All those air pockets are adding up to equal the pressure of the water tank pushing down.

  • @windsound2010
    @windsound2010 11 місяців тому

    This is super amazing!

  • @ramous5182
    @ramous5182 Рік тому +84

    correction, at 6:10 it isn't surface tension stopping the water, it is the air trapped in the system separating the water and thus the column of water is shorter on the way down than up, so the pressure isnt enough to go all the way up again

    • @FirstLast-gw5mg
      @FirstLast-gw5mg Рік тому +3

      It's not the air trapped in the system that's stopping it. When there is enough pressure at the top, the air trapped in the system just gets pushed out.

    • @unfa00
      @unfa00 Рік тому

      Though possibly if the surface tension was lower, air could have escaped?

    • @FirstLast-gw5mg
      @FirstLast-gw5mg Рік тому +4

      @@unfa00 Adding soap to the water would be an easy way to test the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is correct, the water with soap will stop flowing at a lower level than the water without soap.

    • @ramous5182
      @ramous5182 Рік тому +1

      @@unfa00 the air still wouldnt travel downwards

    • @ramous5182
      @ramous5182 Рік тому +4

      @@FirstLast-gw5mg yes if the pressure is higher the water flows, but it doesnt push out the air. Otherwise it wouldnt stop flowing once the pressure drops enough

  • @ironchef8000
    @ironchef8000 Рік тому +13

    I especially love these water videos because I’m a visual person. Seeing the transparencies helps explain a ton. Keep them coming!

  • @Cobalt-Jester
    @Cobalt-Jester 2 місяці тому

    What would happen if you introduce a one way valve entering the maze then fill up the reservoir then let the water flow, so no air can get into the enterence?
    Would that give a different result?
    In your examples at the start lots of air is flowing in with the water.
    I was thinking that without the extra air intake would it solve it more efficiently or does the air that enters with the water find the same path out?

  • @a_angry_bunny
    @a_angry_bunny 10 місяців тому

    I found this video very helpful in the situation I ever find myself in a giant side down maze and water starts pouring in from the top.

  • @rix0400
    @rix0400 Рік тому +54

    wow this is a cool concept. how did you come up with the maze pattern ? is it a pre-determined maze pattern or did you make it yourself?
    great video as always , simple and easy to understand concepts. having a visual to go along with a concept is always so much more understandable.

    • @SteveMould
      @SteveMould  Рік тому +29

      I actually searched stock images sites! I needed the file in vector format so I could send it to the laser cutters (after adding the tank). Stock image sites are good for vector files.

  • @mandolinic
    @mandolinic Рік тому +7

    Can I suggest that you hold the maze horizontally, and make the maze with the base and the walls (not the top). Fill the maze completely with clear water, and allow continuous flow of clear water into the entrance and out the exit. Once it's settled down, use some coloured dye to reveal the path of the flowing water.

  • @natalieeuley1734
    @natalieeuley1734 Рік тому

    It was cool seeing you today at the Cook Museum at the electricity exhibit :)

  • @BOBcacadorDeOnipresente
    @BOBcacadorDeOnipresente 2 місяці тому +1

    Bro this format of the labirint give me flashbacks💀💀💀

  • @tommyb6611
    @tommyb6611 Рік тому +5

    Your tests are great to be used by cave divers, people going deep underground exploring cave systems.
    So that in case of storms outside and flooding in the caves, they ca use as a model to predict safe places for setting up camps.
    I've seen a story about such a situation of a deep dive and a storm that lasted several days outside leading to huge flooding in the cave.

  • @Mike14264
    @Mike14264 Рік тому +4

    This is honestly a really neat video with some very clever bits of trivia! Thanks!

  • @adambamf9365
    @adambamf9365 Рік тому

    its a good tool for showing aquifer water behavior it also replicates a concealed aquifer with the tank being a river stream or lake pretty cool

  • @gar24407
    @gar24407 11 місяців тому

    Videos of the build process would be awsome. Coming up with a question is easy, coming up with an experiment that answers it, is part art, part science.