🚀 go-pugleaf

Here is another reply to Alan's question.
You can demonstrate Pascal's principle by using two cylindrical containers
which have different diameters, for example, a large and a small can of V8
juice. Punch a hole near the bottom of each can and use it to connect cans
with a tube or a drinking straw. Use a good glue to patch open areas between
the tube and the container. You have to do some "Socratic dialoging" to show
that the "same level of water in two cans" would not be possible if Pascal's
principle were not valid. For example:

1. What happens on a seesaw when two people of different weight sit
   at opposite ends?
2. Are the weights of water identical in two cans?
3. How can the weight ratio be estimated? Is it larger than two?
4. How come the level of liquid in the small can is not at least two
   times higher?

For a large class demonstration replace cans by transparent containers, for
example a milk jog and a soda bottle. Coloring of water with wine or milk
may be desirable.
                                 Simple? Yes. Useful? I hope so.

                         Ludwik Kowalski kowalski@apollo.montclair.edu