How Does the Vacuum Cleaner Work?
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The Science of Vacuum
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A vacuum cleaner gets its name from the fact that it works based on the science of vacuums. The principle of a vacuum is that an area of space that contains fewer matter particles than another will draw matter into it from surrounding areas. This principle applied with both total vacuums (a theoretical phenomena where a space is totally void of matter) and partial vacuums. Inside Earth's atmosphere, partial vacuums can occur where a space is created that has fewer gaseous air molecules. By creating such a space, a sucking force can be produced and put to the useful task of cleaning up dirt, dust and debris: a vacuum cleaner.
Air Pump
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The foundational technology of a vacuum cleaner is the air pump, such as the one pictured here. With this pump, a hand-operated plunger is attached to an airtight space. When pulled out, the volume of the enclosed space increases, but no air molecules are able to flow into it. This creates a less-dense space inside the sealed area, causing a partial vacuum. If a closed tube is attached to this sealed space, the act of unsealing it will cause a rush of air into the enclosed space as the two areas equalize in atmospheric pressure (distribution of air molecules). This in turn will cause small objects in the near vicinity of the end of the tube to be swept into the enclosed space.
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Early vacuum cleaners made during the late 1800s consisted of little more than this exact contraption: their pumps were hand-operated. With the advent of electricity, vacuum cleaners were made with powered pumps that operated continuously, creating constant, powerful suction.
Other Features
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Over time, vacuum cleaners have evolved to include supplementary mechanisms that assist in the process of cleaning with vacuum force. Modern household floor vacuum cleaners usually still have a detachable hose, but now also use a system of dust rollers (equipped with rows of brushes) and wheels in the base of the cleaner. As the cleaner is pushed across the floor on its wheels, the rollers sweep up dust and debris in the carpet or on the floor and deposit it into the air beneath the base of the vacuum, making it easier for this sediment to be picked up by the nearby end of the vacuum hose.
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