- Are you feeling curious?

3, 2, 1 - Oops.

Today I'm curious crew.

- Amazing.

We let the knowledge flow.

- Oh my goodness.

As we explore the wonders of fluid power - Ready to get started?

- Yeah.

- All right.

Let's get to it.

- Support for curious crew is provided by MSU federal credit union, offering a variety of accounts for children and teens of all ages.

While teaching lifelong saving habits more information is available@msufcu.org.

Also by the consumer's energy foundation dedicated to ensuring Michigan residents have access to world-class educational resources.

More information is available at consumers energy.com/foundation consumer's energy foundation supporting education and building sustainable communities in Michigan's hometowns.

And by viewers like you!

Thank you.

- Hi, I'm Rob Stevenson.

And this is - Curious crew!

- Welcome to the show everybody.

We always like to start every show with a couple of discrepant events because discrepant events stimulate... - Curiosity!

- Yeah, that's exactly right.

And I'm going to start with an old favorite, my squishy balloon.

So I have a question for all of you, my friends.

How many of you just with a show of hands have accidentally popped a balloon because you played with it too aggressively.

I'm not surprised.

Okay.

So Gibson, what happened when you popped your balloon?

- I had a balloon and I was playing around with it and I was like hitting it and throwing it around with my brother.

And then I overinflated it.

Then it popped - Kabluey, overinflation that happens.

Now, i'm actually going to intentionally work to pop this balloon, my squishy balloon.

So watch close.

Okay.

Let me try again.

I didn't do that very well.

Okay.

Bear with me.

I'm working on it.

Okay.

This is a really squishy balloon.

I cannot seem to pop that.

Okay.

I'm just going to set that aside for a second because I find that interesting.

And I want to show you something else.

I have here, a water bottle.

Now I do have some water in this water bottle.

but I also have a tube that's connected to the end and it's a rather long tube.

And it goes all the way up to this syringe.

Now, inside here, I've got water in there and I'm going to do something to this.

I'm going to place a board on top of it.

And then I'm going to take this ridiculously heavy weight and place it on top of the board.

Okay.

Ado, will you make a prediction for me?

What do you think will happen?

When I pushed down on this plunger with one finger what do you think will happen?

- I think, It might not go down or the two will get super big and full of water.

- Okay.

Awesome.

All right.

Let's give it a whirl and Ada, you watch real close cause I'm going to have you observe what's happening down here at the water bottle and at the board.

So here we go.

Ada, what are you noticing?

- It's the lifting of the board.

- It's Lifting up the board and the weight and I'll back it up for a second.

You might even see it go back down.

Now, this is kind of strange.

I was really worried because I didn't seem to have the hand strength to be able to pop this squishy balloon.

But here again, I could push with one finger on this plunger and lift this really heavy weight.

That's kind of perplexing.

Now these are some interesting discrepant events and I'm going to ask three of you to do a little scientific modeling to see if you can figure out with evidence through the show, how to explain these two discrepant events who would like to do all modeling moments today.

We'd like to try that.

Okay.

Callan, Krish, Finney.

You guys are gonna work on that.

What do you think we're going to be investigating today?

My squishy balloon, this liquid lift.

What do you guys think?

Genesis?

What do you think?

- Well, I think we're going to be discussing fluids because I know that there was water inside of the tube and somehow it lifted that really heavy way.

So probably fluids.

- Oh, that's very good thinking.

So we've got fluids in the balloon in the manner of air and then we've got fluids in the syringe in the matter of liquid water.

Pretty good thinking.

We're going to be talking about fluid power today.

It's pretty cool.

Stick around.

[Krish] So let's try and figure out these phenomenon.

[Callan] I Thought for sure, that doctor rob was going to pop that balloon.

I mean, he was squeezing it so hard.

[Finney] I know.

I wondered if there was something special about the material of that balloon that made it more durable.

[Krish] I'm still thinking about how Dr.

Rob pushed down with one finger on your syringe and the water pushed up the water bottle which had those heavy weights on it.

[Finney] Yeah.

I feel like the plunger would just come flying right out of the syringe under all that pressure.

[Dr.Rob] Have you ever driven by a construction site and seen a large backhoe lifting heavy loads of dirt or rocks or have you visited an auto mechanic and seen a car lifted into the air?

So the technician could work on it.

It seems impossible to design ways to move such heavy things but this is when fluid power can be really useful.

Fluids include gases and liquids.

And when forces applied to them they can transmit power from one place to another.

Going up.

Okay.

So Genesis, you had a pretty good prediction that we were going to be talking about fluids today.

And I want to point out this particular bottle because we actually have two kinds of fluids in here.

We've got liquid water and there's also air both of which are fluids but I'm going to have a little fun and I'm going to drop in some mini marshmallows, because why not?

And once I get these in here you're going to notice that they're all floating.

It kind of like when you put them in your hot chocolate or something like that, but because this is cool water they're not really melting.

but now's the fun part.

This little top is a pump and I'm actually going to pump additional air more fluid into the top of this.

What do you thinks going to happen Genesis?

When I do that [ Genesis ] I think it'll probably push the marshmallow down to the bottom.

Cause there's going to be more pressure working on the mini marshmallows.

[Dr.

Rob] Okay.

Gibson, what do you think?

[Gibson]I think it's going to sink like, in an ocean.

If you were to go down deeper, the pressure would crush and make you sink lower.

Okay.

So you're thinking about the pressure from the water going deep.

Well, you guys are making some good predictions because if you'll notice they're actually experiencing more collisions from the additional air particles in the upper chamber here in the upper space and it's forcing them lower and lower in the water.

This is most obvious when I release the extra pressure watch... see how that's almost like they puffed up which is kind of funny.

All right.

I also asked you both to grab a syringe two syringes connect with a little tubing.

One of these is going to be a 10 milliliter and one is 35 milliliter and it's just air inside there.

So just practice going back and forth for a second and get a sense of what that feels like and what you're noticing and Genesis, what are you noticing?

First of all - First off, I had noticed that when I pushed down on the 10 milliliter syringe, you would expect it to immediately push this one up, but there's like a slight delay before this one actually starts moving.

[Dr.Rob] Okay It's a really good observation.

And this is actually evidence that the particles are actually getting pressed closer together before it starts applying enough pressure to move the other stopper there.

Good.

Good.

Okay.

Gibson, what else are you noticing?

- I'm Noticing that the smaller syringe is easier to push down then the bigger syringe.

[ Dr.

Rob] Okay, That's another really good observation.

This is much easier to push than this one.

And this all has to do with the area of particles that we are pressing against because this one's so much smaller.

It's easier to push.

Now, I want to show you something else.

I've got a couple more marshmallows and a really big 16 millimeter syringe.

And what I'm going to do is just put those in there.

And I got to really carefully see if I can cap the end of this syringe because I want it plugged.

Okay.

Now watch closely.

I'm going to apply a lot of pressure.

Watch those marshmallows.

Oh my goodness.

And I'm going to go back.

Isn't that hilarious.

This is evidence of two different things.

First we can compress the air particles that are in there.

And second, those additional bumps of those particles that are in there is a lot more aggressive which is not only squishing the marshmallows but in that case sinking the marshmallows.

Fluid power!

It's impressive.

A system that uses gases for fluid power is called pneumatics air is compressed by forcing the particles closer together.

And those compressed particles are stored and then travel through hoses before applying pressure in the system air brakes in a truck or a great example.

When the driver pushes on the brake pedal more pressurized air is used to stop.

We also use pneumatics in handheld construction equipment or even a dentist drill.

So we've seen how an air systems like pneumatics.

Those fluids can get compressed but here we have another situation.

Now we're talking about syringes that have a liquid inside, water.

And in fact, I just have food coloring in mine.

You guys have yours as well, right?

Why don't you pull those up?

And what we're going to do is I've got one that is 10 milliliters and this larger one is 35 milliliters.

Do me a favor guys, press down on the 10 milliliters and just make some observations about what you're noticing and what it feels like.

Ada what are you noticing?

- It's harder to push down the 35 milliliter one.

[Dr.

Rob] It is a lot harder to push that down.

I'm working pretty hard on my finger right there.

Excellent.

And what are you noticing Cris?

- So when you pushed down the 35 milliliter plunger the 10 milliliter pillager goes up really fast but then when you push down the opposite way the 35 milliliter plunger goes up really slow.

[Dr.

Rob] Oh, that's a really good observation too.

So you're noticing that goes up really quickly and it goes up really high as opposed to slow.

And it doesn't go up nearly so high.

And that has to do with the area of the volume inside each of the syringes, right.

Cause there's gotta be a lot more water that we're pushing through.

Now, something I want you to think about is this system I have right here.

So you guys can put yours down for a minute.

I've taken three syringes and I've connected them all together through this little connector.

And I've got colored water in there just as before.

This is a 10 milliliter and a 35 just like before but I've added a 60 milliliter.

So here's the thing I want to point out, same ideas.

We talked about how it's much easier to push this, and look I've got the, both of the other two plungers moving but that one moved more.

I don't know if you notice that.

Let me try going this way.

Whoa.

This one's moving a lot.

Look at the 10, the tens moving like crazy.

Okay.

Let me see if I can get that.

Oh yeah.

Okay.

Let me try the 60 for a minute.

Okay.

Now this is really, really hard to push.

Just like we were talking about before now.

The reason that is so is this is a bigger area where the plunger is.

And so that has a lot more water that I'm pushing against.

Now, interestingly enough the pressure it's the same in the entire system.

But when I use this 10 milliliter I can actually move this a long, long, long, long way and push something that's really hard to move like the 60.

So I'm not having any trouble pushing this one in at all.

I'm moved the plunger a lot.

Whereas this one just moves a tiny little bit and we get a big reaction in the 10 milliliter.

It's pretty amazing.

Now we use water in our hydraulic system.

Most of the time it's going to be done with oil because got a much higher viscosity liquid which is pretty cool.

So you can try getting your own syringes, some tubing see if you can make your own liquid network.

Pretty cool, hydraulics.

Give it a try you guys, amazing.

Hydraulic systems are technologies that use liquid fluid power to move things.

We saw how we could apply a force to the syringe to move the water through the system and cause different plungers to move.

Liquids don't compress like gasses do, but they still transmit the power equally in the closed containers.

But the size of those containers makes a difference.

If I applied 10 pounds of force to an area that was one square inch that force could be multiplied 10 times.

If the second cylinder were 10 times the area.

Now that's a great advantage.

So have you been having fun learning about fluid power guys?

- Yeah.

- Awesome.

I have a fun build for you today.

When we start thinking about hydraulics like these syringes and the tubing with water we can actually move energy through the system and transfer that pressure from one area to another.

You guys are going to build some hydraulic machines and I think you got some materials you ready to get started?

- Yeah.

- All right.

Let's get to it.

- Okay.

Five centimeters.

[Genesis] Oh, I cut this now.

okay.

Dr.

Rob has this building are on fluid power systems.

So mine was a cherry picker and it used two syringes on both sides and it would transfer water in between them to push up the arm.

[Gibson] Is There supposed to be two.

I don't know They're Really cool.

They use water and air to make them move.

- Now I'm Tying a microscopic knot.

He has us using pieces of wood that are cut into different shapes.

Like some are long, and some are round and small.

- I did it.

- This is so hard to push in.

- The wooden dowels are super hard to use because they're all different sizes and links.

- It moves!

Look at that.

- The most difficult part of this is getting the right measurements.

- This experiment is super fun and I really enjoy doing this but it's also something that you really have to follow the instructions and follow what you're supposed to do.

- I did it!

I feel so accomplished right now.

- I finally got it to work and it made me super happy because I thought it wasn't gonna work for a little bit.

Cause I couldn't get the pieces to go together but then ended up working in the end.

- So are you guys ready to show me your machines?

- Yeah.

Let's hold them up.

Let's see what we got there.

Oh, those are looking pretty cool.

Pretty cool, you guys.

Oh, I love that.

Okay.

So do me a favor.

Nice job.

You can put them down.

Genesis.

Can we see yours and operation?

Oh wow.

Nice job.

So the use of the hydraulics you can get those arms to move.

Excellent work, you guys.

This is a challenging stem challenge but a lot of fun to be sure.

So think about this.

We were using tubing that had water in it for our hydraulics.

But if we're talking about machinery we're not going to use water.

We're actually going to use oil because we don't want to risk any sort of rusting on all those expensive steel parts.

But if you want to try to build your own hydraulic machine you can even do it out of cardboard.

The kids did theirs out of wood but you could do it out of cardboard, syringes, tubing even some tape have some fun.

It's a cool challenge.

For both pneumatic and hydraulic power systems.

There are four parts in the design.

First there is place to store the fluid called a reservoir or receiver.

Second, there is a pump for liquids or compressor for gases to convert mechanical energy into fluid power.

Third, there is a valve that can control the direction the fluids go and how large a flow to send.

Finally, there are actuators like cylinders and pistons that transfer the energy from fluid power back to mechanical power.

Each of the parts is connected by hoses or piping to carry the fluids.

Great engineering.

So we have explored a lot with fluid power today.

And I'd like to show you guys some pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

But first I got a question for you.

Finney, have you ever played with a stomp rocket before?

- Yes.

- How's that work?

- So the way stomp rocket works is there's a little piece that you stomp on and usually the harder you stomp on it, the higher the rocket will go - Was an excellent explanation.

So in fact, I have one of those here and you'll notice it right here.

This is the little reservoir that you stomp on to send air through the tube and launch this rocket.

So I'm going to put this down here and give it a little stomp and there it goes that wasn't too bad.

Now what would happen if we increase the pressure a little bit?

Callen, what do you think would happen?

- I think it's going to go higher.

- Okay.

This will be a little fun.

Now I've probably taken this to a ridiculous degree because I've used, what's called an air compressor.

Now let's think about this.

We have learned that air particles can get compressed.

That means they get closer together.

And when that happens, they're bouncing around a lot more vigorously and violently.

So it increases the pressure.

Now this machine does just that it pumps air into this reservoir and it is compressed up to 135 pounds per square inch.

Now atmospheric pressure.

That's at 14.7 pounds.

So this is a lot higher.

I've got a hose that goes all the way to this tube.

And all I have to do is squeeze this little trigger.

Should we try it?

I think we need a countdown.

- 3, 2, 1.

- Sorry, Jason.

Oops.

Now what we saw here is a great push from all of those particles.

What's amazing about pneumatic systems is we can actually use that push to move things like a piston or a cylinder and make machines work.

Now, in fact, I want to talk hydraulics.

You guys have probably seen one of these before, right?

A giant floor Jack.

Now watch how this works.

First thing I have to do is twist the top.

This actually closes a valve.

And then by doing this, I am sending pumping hydraulic oil inside and this whole chamber will lift up.

Now what's amazing is I'm having to pump this a lot to move at a very little amount or are you noticing that?

But here's the thing.

This can lift 6,000 pounds.

That is the power of hydraulics.

It's quite impressive.

And then eventually all I have to do is open the valve and it will drop back down on its own.

Pretty cool pneumatic hydraulic systems.

Very impressive.

Fluid power from pneumatics and hydraulics make difficult jobs, much easier and precise construction workers use pneumatics to build while dentists use them to take care of your teeth pilots and airplanes and captains of ships use hydraulics to steer, forklift operators and mechanics use hydraulics for lifting.

And even the family car uses hydraulics to stop.

Perhaps you can think of new ways to use fluid power to make our lives easier too.

- Are you curious about careers in science?

Hi, I'm Jen Genesis.

And today I'm here with Dr. Ashanti Johnson.

Ashanti, tell me where you are and what you do.

- I am In Georgia and I am a chemical oceanographer.

I investigate the water quality of estuaries beaches and the ocean looking to see what areas are healthy and areas are contaminated.

A typical day at work includes working with students and figuring out how we can help solve problems.

So we're leaving a healthier environment for the next generation.

- What's the most rewarding part of your job?

- The most rewarding part of my job is working with the next generation of stem entrepreneurs and scientists and people who are interested in the ocean they environment or any other part of stem.

That's, what's really exciting to me right now.

- After Talking with Dr.Ashanti Johnson, I'm ready to make some waves in chemical oceanography.

Explore your possibilities - And now, back to curious crew.

[Callan] So I know from Genesis and Gibson's and marshmallow investigation, that the air can get compressed and at the particles move around.

I think Dr.

Rob used a balloon that had a lot more space but didn't inflate it as much There was a lot of material that could still stretch.

- I Agree.

Me and Adea had found out that pushing down the 10 milliliter syringe was easier than pushing down the 35 milliliter syringe because the plunger surface is smaller.

- That's right.

And Dr.

Rob pushed those 60 millimeter plunger which is a lot smaller than the water pump.

Did you notice how, even though the plunger moved a long way the water bottle only inflated a tiny bit.

That must be the mechanical advantage that Dr.

Rob was talking about.

- Yeah, it makes sense.

- So have you guys had fun exploring fluid power today?

- Yeah.

- Awesome.

Now I know three of you have been working really hard to try to make sense of these phenomenon from the beginning of the show.

And I hope it wasn't too much pressure on you.

Sorry about that.

But Callan, what did you guys come up with on this squishy balloon - That when you squish it, some of the particles, instead of compressing, they just move to other parts of the boardroom.

- So when I squeeze it, they just keep moving around.

Now that pressure is the same in the system.

We know that, but because it's not fully inflated there is room for them to move around.

And the concentration of air particles is just not enough to puncture through this.

Now, what would happen if I overinflated it and did what Gibson did, and then tried to try and squeezing it what happened, Callan?

- it, pop, [Dr.

Rob] It would pop.

I don't think I want to try that.

So I'll set that aside.

Good thinking there.

All right.

So then we have our liquid lift.

Chris, what have you guys figured out about that?

- We think that it's easier to push the 60 milliliter three-inch because the diameter of the plunger is small compared to the area of the water bottle even though the pressure of the water is the same.

[Dr.

Rob] okay.

and so we're talking about a small area here in the plunger compared to the large area of the water bottle.

Now you made a good point though.

You said the pressure is the same throughout.

So Finney, if that's true and the pressure is the same how am I able to push this down with just one finger?

- You can move it with just one finger because the hydraulics give you a mechanical advantage even though the pressure is the same.

The input force of the syringe is multiplied in the larger area of the hot water.

- Okay.

So I have a smaller input force Which is able to have a larger output force and that is directly related to the area of the plunger.

Nice job.

You guys good thinking?

So with pneumatics and with hydraulics it can really make our lives a lot easier.

The one thing we have to remember with the mechanical advantage is there's always a trade off.

So even though I can push this down with one finger, I have to push it a really long way to get a teeny tiny lift over there.

There's always a trade-off.

So remember my friends - Stay Curious - And keep experimenting - Support for curious crew is provided by MSU federal credit union offering a variety of accounts for children and teens of all ages while teaching lifelong saving habits more information is available@msufcu.org.

Also by the consumer's energy foundation dedicated to ensuring Michigan residents have access to world-class educational resources.

More information is available at consumers energy.com/foundation consumer's energy foundation supporting education and building sustainable communities in Michigan's hometowns.

And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

- Not very oppressive was it let's try that again.

That was good.

That was nice.