[NewCandle] Morton effect?

[Kyle R. Mcallister]

Keith Nagel wrote:
> Hi Kyle,
> 
> As you say, the Morton effect is likely due to the gas
> expanding in the tube and puffing out the free end.
> This setup is very similar to a water arc cannon;
> in fact one could arrange the grounded part as a
> ring inside the tube and achieve an easier effect.
> This explains why the "beam" would not be
> affected by a magnet as it's uncharged air molecules.
> With a larger storage capacity, one could create
> quite a bit of impulse power, but nothing like
> what you can get with a propeller (grin).

It feels like air. It cools a wet hand like air. But what is moving the 
air, I dunno.

After I picked my wife up from work, and we got home, she helped me do 
the experiment again. I moved the PVC tube away from the sphere by 3/4". 
So there is now an air gap of approx 2.355 sq-in area at the sphere end 
of the gizmo. The outlet hole where the force is produced from is 1/4" 
dia, giving it an area of .049 sq-in. Clearly, all things being equal, 
the air should take the path of least resistance, and blow out the big 
gap, leaving little or none to make an impulse out of the hole that can 
be felt a foot away. But are all things equal?

Regardless, there was little noticeable reduction in the impulse shot 
from the hole even when this 3/4" gap was introduced between the sphere 
and the PVC tube. Nor was airflow detected coming from the gap. Any 
ideas what might make the air act this way?

Anyhow, as I said, I didn't do it quite right anyways. I need to redo 
the plate construction to make it more like what Morton originally did. 
Then maybe we'll know. I'm still thinking this is something 
conventional, but it's fun to noodle around with.

--Kyle