What makes natural whirlpools

Naruto whirlpool Setouchi Tourism. Whirlpool Aero Car above Niagara whirlpool Dreamstime. Surfing the incoming tide at the Skookumchuck Narrows Dreamstime. Saltstraumen whirlpool, Norway Dreamstime. Related Articles. Looking for inspiration. Join our Newsletter Love travel quizzes, events and competitions? Your firstname. Notice that the water stays in the straw. It can't fall out because you have your finger over the top end so no air can get into the straw to replace the water.

Now remove your finger, and the water falls out freely. Similarly, if you punch or drill a hole in the bottom of the pop bottle, put your finger over it, fill it with water, turn it upside down, and then remove your finger from the hole, you would be able to see how freely the water falls out of the bottle.

Create your own Whirlpool. But there is an even better way to let air into the bottle, and it demonstrates a whirlpool vortex at the same time. Fill the bottle with water, turn it upside, down, then move it in a circular motion to get the water spinning, then stop making the circular motion and let the water continue to spin. This will start a vortex action, and it will increase as gravity pulls the water down. Notice the hollow opening in the water that allows air back up into the bottle.

Compare how much faster the water leaves the bottle when you create a vortex. It is much faster with the vortex action because the water and air are not fighting as they pass through the same small space. Build a Whirlpool in a Bottle. Click here or on the picture to see illustrated instructions about how you can build your own whirlpool in a bottle or "tornado tube" like the one pictured here. It is easy to build with two plastic pop bottles, and is lots of fun to play with. Water Sculptures.

A sculptor in London by the name of William Pye builds large water whirlpools which are located in tourist destinations and other locations. You can see pictures and videos of them on his website. Wilson Water Works. Allan Wilson, of Wilson's Water Works designs and builds hands-on water vortexes and other water exhibits for Science Centers and Children's Museums and has been kind enough to let us show some pictures of his work. His website is www. About the author This information is collected, written, and edited by Steve Divnick, a former school teacher-turned-inventor.

The Spiral Wishing Well is the same shape as a tornado and other naturally-occurring vortex's including the shape of water going down the drain. You can even make coins climb UP the funnel similar to how a tornado sucks objects up into its funnel. When a whirlpool or maelstrom produce a downdraft like in your plughole this is called a vortex. Let's take a look at some of the notable whirlpools across the world.

Located 20 miles 20km from Bodo, Norway, close to the arctic circle, the Maelstrom of Saltstraumen is the strongest maelstrom in the world. As with extreme tidal ranges , this maelstrom us caused by a narrow strait that funnels water through four times a day. During a maelstrom at Saltstraumen, some million cubic metres of water pass through the strait. The maelstrom is caused chiefly by the 2-mile 3km channel which connects Saltfjord with Skjerstandford, forcing the water through with changes in the tide.

Others are caused by a difference in water density due to temperature. They can also be driven by tides. Whatever their cause, most currents travel rapidly in one direction. When two or more currents flowing in different directions meet, their waters begin to swirl around each other. This forms a vortex. It has the power to pull objects into it.

However, those that are very large or powerful can pose a serious threat to anyone who comes too close. These very strong whirlpools are called maelstroms. Whirlpools up to 33 feet in diameter occur every six hours. Ships that wish to travel through the strait time their trips to pass through when the waters are safe.

Otherwise, vessels could be damaged or destroyed by this maelstrom. Other famous whirlpools include Moskstraumen, Old Sow, and Naruto. Unlike most maelstroms, those in Moskstraumen form in the open sea, away from straits and rivers. Old Sow occurs near New Brunswick.

The Naruto whirlpool forms off the coast of Japan and can grow to 66 feet in diameter. Whirlpools can also form in rivers and are very common at the bottom of waterfalls.

Always stay vigilant when swimming in natural bodies of water. Whirlpools can be very dangerous and can cause drowning. Despite the danger, whirlpools are a fascinating natural phenomenon.