In this article we will talk about what the Heron Fountain is . This water device was known 2000 years ago. Nevertheless, few people today think about how it works. Indeed, now there are many home fountains of various kinds on sale. But the peculiarity of this fountain is that it works without any engine, and you can do it yourself.
No need to buy
DIY enthusiasts will be happy to know that this device can be made quickly and easily. How to make the Heron Fountain? First you need to prepare materials and understand the principle of its work. It’s not difficult to make a simple Heron fountain with your own hands. And it consists of only two containers for water, tubes and a bowl. All these objects are interconnected and, thanks to the gravity existing on Earth, a jet of water is pushed above the surface of the bowl. The Heron Fountain also operates in full accordance with the laws of hydropneumatics.
Details
Each fountain tank serves a specific purpose. The fountain of Heron begins with a cup. It is a bowl filled with water, from which a thin tube leaves, directed into the lower container. It is along it that water begins to move. This container is empty. Water accumulates in it, which, rising upwards, creates the pressure of air rising through a thin tube and enters the upper tank filled with water. From here, air pushes water, which moves through the tube into a bowl of water and creates a stream that is visible above the surface of the liquid. The Heron Fountain can work for a very long time, but the containers have to be swapped. Because the lower one is gradually filled with water, and the upper one is filled with air, which means that the necessary pressure ceases to be created.
What's the secret
You may be surprised to read now about how to make a fountain with your own hands. Indeed, plastic is used in this model, and 200 years ago it was not invented yet. Everything is simple. Greek inventor used glass containers. To begin with, he conducted an experiment. He poured water into a glass bottle, then plugged it with a cork in which he made a hole. In this hole, he inserted a tube reaching the bottom of the bottle. Putting this structure in the sun, Heron began to observe it. The sun began to heat the bottle, and water rushed up the tube. Moreover, the stronger the sun warmed, the more water flowed out. Then Heron took a magnifying glass and directed it to the bottle to enhance the effect of sunlight. Heated water with a high stream escaped from the bottle through the tube. This prompted Heron to the idea that water can move in a circle, rising from the bottle and returning to it. Then he began to think about how to make sure that the water independently returned back to the tank.
What's next
The inventor invented to place two more inside one vessel. The third vessel was empty, and the second was filled with water. Water enters the third vessel, creating air pressure, from which it rises up the tube located in the middle of the third vessel. From the second vessel, water begins to move into the third, expanding when heated by sunlight. As a result, viewers see the beating jet of a fountain above the surface of the bowl. Heron placed his first fountain in the temple. At that time it was like a miracle, because no one could explain how this fountain works, because there were no mechanical devices or pipes to show water to be pumped through.
Nowadays
Heron’s invention is still interesting to our contemporaries. It especially surprises children who are not yet familiar with the laws of physics. Modern inventors are gradually improving the project of Heron. They add something new to it, improve its properties and, of course, come up with something of their own. For example, you can increase the height of the jet, if you connect several containers to each other, then the pressure is added up and pushes the jet of water over a long distance. Still come up with various ways to recharge the fountain. It would be nice to make sure that a person does not have to take part in this process.
Nowadays, even a schoolboy can make a Geron fountain with his own hands. How to make it - you read in our article. You can decorate this invention and install it in your country house or apartment, surprising guests.