ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Hi, 

I just wanted to share a little story about my experience with fabulous fire
tornados.Make sure you test this demo in the room where the show will take
place.  This demo was the second most SPECTACULAR failure of my science demo
career. I can't talk about the MOST SPECTACILAR failure as because the
statue of limitations is not up yet. (Just kidding! Nobody call the cops.)

I built the mechanism and had it working great in the prototyping room. Then
I took it downstairs for the first show.  After 2 other tricks in the show
didn't go quite as well as I had planned, (My volunteer selection could have
been better.)  I thought the good ole fire tornado grand finale is going to
save the day!  (When it works it is AWESOME!) Well the air conditioning unit
in the atrium created enough of a breeze to disrupt the rising air in the
mesh cylinder and the GRAND FINALE of a weak show was a bust. OUCH! The
breeze from the air conditioning was barely strong enough to be felt on a
wet finger, but was strong enough to provide me with a wonderful learning
experience.  ( I always look on the bright side.) Lesson learned always test
your equipment in the performance venue before the show.

One great addition to this demo is to add a small amount of metal salts to
your solvent solution and change the color of the flame.

Mike

PS.  To prevent this problem you might try using some plexi-glass shielding.

On 2/3/09 6:15 PM, "Ian Russell" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Here in the UK, Richard Ellam [[log in to unmask]] has
> recemtly been supplying the necessary equipment for this awesome demo.
> Basically, it's a cylindrical steel mesh on a rotating bearing. You set fire
> to some solvent-soaked material at the base of the cylinder and set it
> spinning. Air drawn in by the rising flames begins to rotate and you
> suddenly have a fire tornado.
> 
> Promoting public engagement with science
> through a contagious delight in phenomena
> *
> [log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
> *
> Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
> Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
> *
> Ian Russell 
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the
> Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> 
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
> 
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To
> learn more, visit
> http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
> 
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
> message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
> [log in to unmask]
> 

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]