How to Add Smoke in a Wind Tunnel
Professionally, wind tunnels are used by anyone whose product will encounter wind at some point--cars and airplanes for example. The machine allows a physicist to see how the wind interacts with his vehicle. In a classroom, these machines can be used to demonstrate aerodynamics, lift and convection currents. They're easy to build and require some kind of smoke to operate.
Things You'll Need
- Smoke bombs
- Smoke wand or stick
- Cigarette or cigar
- Plywood board
- 1-inch by 1-inch wood
- 1-1/2-inch wood screws
- Variable speed fan
- Caulking gun and caulk
- Cordless drill and bit set
- Measuring tape
- Plexiglas sheet
- Wind tunnel (optional)
- Two coffee cans
- Putty or Play-doh
Instructions
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Using a Smoke Bomb
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1
Set the wind tunnel up properly for your experiment. Place the wind tunnel on a pair of coffee cans with the smoke hole on the bottom, over one of the coffee cans.
Place the object for testing, if applicable, inside the wind tunnel.
If you need to build a wind tunnel, go to the Wind Tunnel section.
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2
Set off the smoke bomb or smoke wand. Place it inside the coffee can nearest the smoke hole, so that the smoke can go through the hole. If you need a smoke bomb, go to the Resources section.
The wind tunnel will pull the smoke through the hole and into the main chamber.
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3
Observe the front to view the experiment as it happens.
Using a Tobacco Product
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4
Set the wind tunnel up properly for your experiment. Place the smoke hole on the top of the wind tunnel.
Place the object for testing, if applicable, inside the wind tunnel.
If you need to build a wind tunnel, see the Wind Tunnel section.
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5
Light the tobacco product and place the end in the smoke hole. If the hole is too large for a cigarette, you can stick in place with some putty.
The wind tunnel will pull the smoke through the hole and into the main chamber.
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6
Observe the front to view the experiment as it happens.
Wind Tunnel
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7
Measure the diameter of the variable fan you have.
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8
Cut three plywood boards to the width of the fan, and the same length. Measure and cut a piece of Plexiglas to the same dimensions. Cut four pieces of 1-inch by 1-inch wood to the match the lengths of the plywood as well.
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9
Caulk and lay two of the pieces of 1-inch by 1-inch wood parallel, 1/4-inch in, along the edges of a piece of plywood. Screw them into place through the plywood on the back.
Repeat for the remaining pieces of 1-inch by 1-inch wood and one of the other plywood pieces. These will become the sides of the wind tunnel.
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10
Caulk the outer sides of the 1-inch by 1-inch wood on both plywood planks. Place them along the sides of the remaining piece of plywood so they form a U shape. Screw these into place.
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11
Drill several pilot holes along the edges of the Plexiglas piece. Space them 6 to 8 inches apart.
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12
Place the Plexiglas on the remaining caulked sides of the 1-inch by 1-inch wood as the final side of the wind tunnel. Screw the Plexiglas viewing panel into place.
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13
Drill a 1/2-inch hole into one of the side panels on your wind tunnel.
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14
Leave the caulk to dry overnight so it forms an airtight seal.
To use the wind tunnel, place the fan at the opening nearest the smoke hole, and turn it on.
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