Rohit Velankar, a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School, found himself pondering the rhythmic sound of juice pouring into a glass. His curiosity led him to question whether a container’s elasticity played a role in the way its contents drained. Initially a project for a science fair, Rohit’s exploration into fluid dynamics took an unexpected turn when he enlisted the help of his father, Sachin Velankar, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering.
Together, father and son embarked on a series of experiments in their family’s basement, ultimately resulting in the publication of their first joint paper in the journal Physics of Fluids. Sachin Velankar expressed his personal investment in the project, stating that their commitment to seeing it through to completion was unwavering. The initial findings revealed that deli containers with rubber lids emptied faster than those with plastic lids, shedding light on the phenomenon of “glugging.”
Exploring the Impact of Elasticity on Fluid Drainage
The Velankars took their research a step further by creating their own acrylic bottles with rubber lids, utilizing resources available at Fox Chapel Area High School’s makerspace. By incorporating sensors to measure pressure oscillations during drainage, they were able to simulate flexibility by adjusting the diameter of the drainage hole. This experimentation confirmed that flexible bottles not only drained faster but also exhibited larger and less frequent glugs.
The Velankars’ collaborative efforts have opened new avenues for exploring the role of elasticity in fluid dynamics. By delving into the intricacies of how containers’ materials and designs affect drainage patterns, this father-son team has provided valuable insights that may have implications for various industries, from food packaging to medical devices. Their work underscores the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and hands-on experimentation in the realm of scientific discovery.
Rohit Velankar’s initial curiosity about the sound of pouring juice has blossomed into a groundbreaking exploration of fluid dynamics, thanks to the collaborative efforts of father and son. Their research serves as a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the value of pursuing scientific inquiry with both curiosity and determination.
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