What Causes the Egg-Water Phenomenon?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the phenomenon observed when an egg is placed in a glass of water and subjected to a flow of water from a tap, causing the egg to rise to the surface. Participants explore potential explanations for this behavior, considering various physical principles and factors such as vessel dimensions and fluid dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the phenomenon as a miracle-like occurrence and seeks opinions on its cause.
  • Another participant draws a parallel to a trick involving a ball "floating" in a stream of moving air, suggesting a similarity in the underlying principles.
  • A suggestion is made that the Venturi effect may explain the phenomenon, proposing that higher velocity and lower density fluid flow creates a stable partial vacuum around the egg.
  • One participant notes that the width of the vessel affects the egg's movement, indicating that a wider vessel prevents the egg from rising.
  • Another participant counters that the egg does not need to spin for the phenomenon to occur, sharing an observation of the egg rising in a narrower glass without perceivable spin.
  • Discussion includes the idea that the vessel's dimensions influence convection currents, which may play a role in the egg's behavior.
  • A participant proposes that the upward motion of water, driven by the force of water entering the vessel, causes the egg to float, and that stopping the water flow results in the egg sinking again.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the factors influencing the egg's behavior, particularly regarding the necessity of the egg spinning and the impact of vessel dimensions. No consensus is reached on a singular explanation for the phenomenon.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about fluid dynamics and the role of vessel dimensions, but these assumptions remain unresolved and may depend on specific conditions not fully explored in the discussion.

wolfgang
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Hi,everyone


Everyone of you must have done the following experiment while you prepare your breakfast.

Put an egg (boiled or not) in a glass or brig then put the glass under a tab and release the water, you will notice that seconds later the egg will slowly arise to the top of the water surface and will remain there until you stop the water.

If we were living in middle ages this would be a miracle but since we are living in 21st century I would like to hear you opinions about this phenomenon.
 
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Have you ever seen the trick of the ball "floating" in a stream of moving in air? I wonder if this is something similar.
 
Some kind of Venturi effect? Higher velocity, lower density symmetric fluid flow situates around object exterior, creating a stable partial vacuum.
 
Thanks for replaying guys,
but I want also to add (I am sorry I did not give this information in my first mail) that the phenomenon must have something to do with the size of the vessel we are using.

Especially with the width and not the height of the vessel because if you use a little wider vessel the egg does not move and remains at the bottom of the vessel.

And something more the egg is rotating (has spin) around its big axis.
 
It is not necessary for the egg to spin, I observed this in a glass to narrow to allow that. The egg elevated to a midpoint in the glass, well above the bottom, but not quite to the top. There was no perceivable spin.
 
The dimensions of the vessel would help determine size, number, symmetry and orientation of "convection" currents.
 
The EGG...

Hi,

The answer to ur question is very simple. It is just that narrower the vessel, the more the force with which water moves into the vessel. So The more the force, the more will be the upward motion of the water as it hits the bottom. Which means that the egg is going to float. But as soon as you close the tap, this upward force stops due to the stop in the flow of water and hence the egg again sinks due to its weight.

(PS: It would be easier to understand if you can visualise this...)

Sridhar
 

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