Rohit Velankar, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, embarked on a scientific journey that started with a simple observation of pouring juice into a glass. As he listened to the rhythmic “glug, glug, glug” sound coming from the carton, he began to wonder about the role of a container’s elasticity in the way fluids drain. This curiosity led him to delve into a research project for his science fair, which eventually evolved into a collaborative effort with his father, Sachin Velankar, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering.
The Velankars conducted their experiment in the basement of their home, exploring the dynamics of fluid drainage from containers of varying elasticity. The results of their research were groundbreaking, leading to the publication of their first joint paper in the esteemed journal Physics of Fluids. Sachin Velankar expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the importance of seeing it through to completion. Through a series of experiments, they discovered that containers with higher flexibility, such as bags holding IV fluids or boxed wine, were able to dispense fluid without the familiar “glugging” sound.
Taking their research a step further, the Velankars constructed their own custom acrylic bottles with rubber lids, using the resources available at Fox Chapel Area High School’s makerspace. By incorporating sensors near the bottom of each bottle to measure pressure oscillations during fluid drainage, they were able to simulate the effects of container elasticity. The diameter of the hole in the bottles was adjusted to mimic varying levels of flexibility, ultimately confirming that flexible containers drain faster, albeit with larger and less frequent “glugs.”
The collaborative efforts of Rohit and Sachin Velankar have shed light on the intricate relationship between container elasticity and fluid drainage. Their innovative research opens up new possibilities for understanding and optimizing the process of dispensing liquids from various types of containers. This father-son duo’s scientific exploration serves as a testament to the power of curiosity, collaboration, and hands-on experimentation in unraveling the mysteries of everyday phenomena.
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