Getting crafty
- POSTED ON: 19 Jan, 2023
- TOTAL VIEWS: 193 Views
- POSTED BY: Jagadeesh Kanna | Article: Madhumitha Srinivasan
- ARTICLE POINTS: 150 Points
While Hanuman and Sugriva are learning simple science and warfare techniques, Meghnath is delving into the most advanced techniques from Sukracharya.
Meghnath: Guru, is there a way to divert the direction of weapons mid-flight and stun the opponents?
Sukracharya: What made you think of this?
Meghnath: I was observing the movement of the box mite. This insect jumps in a weird curvy way and increases its range. It also uses the same techniques to escape or target its prey.
Sukracharya: You mean like this?
Sukracharya kicks a ball, which travels in a curvy path instead of going straight.
Meghnath: Yes. This is what I meant. What magic is this?
Sukracharya: This is not magic, Meghnath. It is pure science. Many football, basketball and tennis players use this technique.
Meghnath: Can you show me how?
Sukracharya: It will be easier to explain it with this experiment. Just remember: “High speed, low pressure; low speed, high pressure.”
Sukracharya brings two paper cups, tape and a rubber band.
Sukracharya: Do you think we can make this paper cup fly?
Meghnath: Perhaps, we can throw it up and, with a parachute, it can gently float down.
Sukracharya: What about without a parachute?
Meghnath: I guess you are going to show me how with this experiment.
Sukracharya: Yes. Watch.
Sukracharya demonstrates how to put the paper cups together to make it “fly”. (Refer to the experiment below)
Meghnath: Wow! The cylinder flies upwards! How did this happen?
Sukracharya: It’s called Bernoulli’s Principle. It states that faster-moving air has low air pressure and slower-moving air has high air pressure. All aircraft use this principle to fly. Aeroplanes use this principle to achieve lift or take off from the ground.
Meghnath: Is this the principle the footballers use too?
Sukracharya: Yes. I will tell you more later. With a few more experiments, you will also be able to build the kind of weapon you asked about: one that can change direction.
Meghnath: That sounds exciting!
Sukracharya smiles, as he knows that Meghnath will use this principle in future warfare extensively.
The author is the founder and CEO of Vaayusastra Aerospace, an IIT-Madras incubated ed-tech startup that offers Air Science workshops for children between five and 14 years.
Glider Cups
Click on the yellow info buttons to learn more about each step.
To launch: To launch, let go of the cups. The rubber band chain will unwind, spinning the cups. This will result in the cups gently gliding to the ground.