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Floating Ball

A stone ball often placed on a fountain. It can rotate with the pushing of water.

The floating ball game is an excellent example of "Bernoulli's Principle". As air is forced around the ball it must move faster in order to "catch up" on the other side. The result is a decrease in air pressure around the ball that in turn keeps the ball in place. The force is strong enough to resist other forces acting on the ball such as a subtle tap from your finger. The force can also overcome gravity if the flow of air is strong enough. This can be demonstrated by turning the base of the pipe 15-20 degrees - the ball will remain suspended in the air flow even though it is not directly above it.

However, the "floating ball" we talk here is not referring the game described above, floating ball here is pushed by water rather than air. It's usually a decorative stone ball which can rotate with the pushing of water of the fountain.

Floating ball fountains fascinate young and old alike. A polished stone sphere floats on a frictionless cushion. A slight touch makes these ideal for hands on displays.

Minimal flow requirements make these ball fountains ideal for low splash indoor applications.

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