Brownian Motion: Pollen and Red Ink in Water

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the application of Brownian motion using pollen grains and red ink in water as alternatives to traditional smoke and air particles. Participants conclude that pollen grains are suitable for demonstrating Brownian motion due to their size and density compared to water, while red ink is less practical unless it contains larger pigment particles. The fundamental principle established is that Brownian motion illustrates the random movement of particles within a fluid, which is composed of smaller molecules.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Brownian motion principles
  • Knowledge of particle density and solubility concepts
  • Familiarity with fluid dynamics
  • Basic principles of molecular theory
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of pollen grains in fluid dynamics
  • Explore the solubility and particle size of various inks
  • Investigate alternative fluids for demonstrating Brownian motion
  • Learn about molecular theory and its implications in particle movement
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Students in physics, educators demonstrating Brownian motion, and researchers exploring particle dynamics in fluids.

kate.k
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The brownian motion setup using smoke and air particles represents and allow us to conclude that gaseous particles move randomly (in any direction).

Is there a setup using other particles and another fluid instead of smoke and air to represent the movement of liquid particles?

1) Can we use Pollen grains and water? Or Red ink and water?
2) Is the choice of pollen grains practical? For e.g. solubility of red ink/ movement of red ink in water or the density of pollen grains compared water?
 
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Brownian motion is usually taken to indicate that matter consists of molecules. There is one big particle like pollen or a smoke particle that is observed to move randomly in what appears to be an indivisible fluid. The explanation for the random motion is that the indivisible fluid is actually made of molecules.

So pollen grains would work, but ink probably wouldn't (unless it has big grains of pigment).
 

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