Bulacan State University

College of Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Department

SUBJECT: ME Laboratory 1 (ME 311)

EXPERIMENT NO. 2: Endless Siphons

GROUP NO.: 6

LEADER: Guidoc, Luna Mae C.

GROUP MEMBERS: Agnote, Rea T., De Guzman, Aaron Choco S., Parungao, Al Christian P.

COURSE / YEAR / SECTION: BSME 3A

DATE OF SUBMISSION: June 19, 2021

SUBJECT INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Adrian C. Flores

I. OBJECTIVES:

The experiment to be performed has the following objectives:

1. Explain the scientific principle/s that allow the transfer of fluid from one container to another.

2. Describe the ideal conditions that permit this continuous siphons of fluid.

3. Predict and set the possibility and conditions of transferring all the fluid in the last container
draining the rest of the containers.

II. INTRODUCTION:

A siphon is the most widely used instrument in fluid mechanics, which consists of a hose
full of water with one end at a water source and the other end pouring out into a destination below
the source. In a narrower sense, the term refers to a tube with an inverted "U" shape that causes
a liquid to flow upward, above the surface of a reservoir, without the use of a pump, and is
powered by the liquid's fall as it flows down the tube under gravity's pull, then discharges at a
level lower than the reservoir's surface.

Throughout history, scientists have believed that atmospheric pressure is the driving force
behind the principle of siphons and they have theorized that gravity is the key force. The force of
gravity continues to pull the liquid through the tube after it has been sucked up the tube and over
the hump. The idea is based on liquid cohesion, which requires the presence of a continuous
chain of cohesive bonds in the liquid.

This experiment offers a great demonstration of water hydraulics and will illustrate how an
endless siphon is possible to perform.

III. MATERIALS and DESCRIPTIONS:

Materials Images Descriptions

1. Siphons A pre-made pipe or tube

through which a liquid can be
drawn in or squirt out.

2. Glasses A liquid-holding transparent

glass that is flat-bottomed.
3. Food coloring A color additive that adds
colors to any liquid, such as
water.

4. Tap water A mixture of the chemical

components hydrogen and
oxygen in the form of a liquid.

5. Container tub It is a plastic open-top

rectangular container.

IV. EXPERIMENT PROCEDURES:

Procedures Illustrations Remarks

1. Gather the materials Siphon may be substituted.

needed for the You may use a straw or hose
experimentation. and make them in a U-shape.
2. To begin the Ensure the level of water
experimentation, carefully synonymous among the
fill the four glasses glasses.
halfway with water.

3. Add food coloring to the Mix thoroughly the food

first and third glasses in coloring added.
the row.

4. Then, fill one by one the Properly covered the top of the
siphon tubes with water. one end of the siphon to stop
Once the tube is filled, air from entering and exerting
turn it upside down and a downward force on the
cover one of the ends liquid.
with your finger.
Siphons should be completely
filled with water before turning
upside down.

5. Connect the glasses by The uncovered end of the

placing one end into the siphon should be placed first
second glass and the under the water while the
other one covered by your covered end should be
finger to the first glass. uncovered under the water.

Observe again the remarks on

procedure 4.
6. Repeat procedures 4 and
5 for the remaining
glasses.
7. Afterwards, gradually
pour water to the first
glass in the row. Record
your observations.
8. For the second part of the
experimentation, take
away the glass at the end
of the row and let the last
siphon drain into a large
bowl or sink.
9. Then, continuously pour
water to the first glass in
the row. Record your
observations.
Observe the remarks on
procedures 4 and 5.
Add water gradually to avoid
spillage.
Before removing the fourth
glass in the row, properly
cover the siphon end place on
it under the water to avoid
experimentation failure.
Add water gradually to avoid
spillage.
V. FINDINGS, ANALYSIS, and PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:
Findings Analysis
1. The water flows from the A gravitational potential
first glass to the fourth difference will exist between
glass through siphons. the liquid level in the tank and
This is evidently seen as the siphon opening - the
the colored water moves difference resulted in an
succeedingly to the unbalanced system and stored
glasses. potential energy. As a result,
there will be a suction force on
a glass that contains a lower
level of water and the fluid will
flow.
2. At some point, the level Siphon relies upon
of the water among the gravitational force and
glasses reaches differential pressure and due
equilibrium. to the unbalanced forces
between these two, the fluid
flows. However, when it
reaches equilibrium, the flow
will eventually stop due to no
difference in gravitational force
and pressure.
Practical Applications
This concept is commonly
used to the following:
1) To move water or any
liquid from one
reservoir to another
that is separated by a
barrier such as a hill or
ridge;
2) To transport sewerage
or stormwater beneath
highways or streams;
3) In agricultural irrigation
systems; and
4) Water purification
systems.
This concept is commonly
used to transfer liquid from a
higher elevation tank to a
lower elevation tank.
 3. Second part of the The basin has a larger volume This concept is widely used in
experiment revealed that than the sum of the volumes of emptying: 1) a liquid tank that
glasses will eventually the glasses, and has a lower lacks an outlet; and 2) a dam
drain at some point. elevation among the glasses. or channel that lacks any
This creates a large differential sluice gates or other outlets;
pressure and gravity, so the
water in the glasses will drain
as it tries to reach the energy
equilibrium.

VI. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

After conducting this experiment we observed that the siphon flow is not sustained by air
pressure. Siphon flow is not caused by a weight differential in the liquid in the tube arms. The flow
of the siphon is caused by a gravitational potential difference between the liquid level in the
reservoir and the aperture of the output tube.

The operation of a siphon requires gravity. The siphon is an imbalanced mechanism that
keeps the liquid flowing by storing gravitational potential energy. Like in pipelines, as long as a
pipeline is flowing full, the pump head required to maintain flow is equal to the head due to friction
and the elevation increase between the pump discharge and the pipeline discharge. This rule
holds true even if some point in between has an elevation greater than that of the pipeline
discharge.

At the end of the experiment the liquid is sucked to the tube and begins to empty into the
other container, it means it decreases the atmospheric pressure on the surface of the liquid
pushing liquid up into the tube toward the area of lower pressure.