Non-linear dependence of the height of a chain fountain on drop height

摘要

If the end of a long chain, which is contained in an elevated beaker, is dropped over the edge of the beaker and falls, it is observed that as the speed of the chain increases the chain rises to form a loop well above the top of the beaker. The name ‘chain fountain' has been applied to this phenomenon. In this study the dependence of the fountain loop height on the height the chain falls to the ground is investigated by the measurement of the heights over a range greater than those previously reported. The data are compared with earlier work and model predictions. It is found that the linear dependence of the fountain height on the fall height as predicted by the considered model is confirmed for heights below 3.5 m. However, it is observed that when the range of fall heights is extended well beyond this the dependence is strongly non-linear.