Elastic and Inelastic

Collisions in Inverse
Sprinkler
D. John Jabaraj
Technical Foundation Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish
Institute, Kulim Hi-Tech Park, 09000 Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia

The difference between the normal

sprinkler and inverse sprinkler:
Normal Sprinkler

Device with right angled nozzles (from axis of rotation or pivot).

Fluid jets out from the nozzles.

Direction of spin: Spins against the direction fluid jets.

Inverse Sprinkler

Device with right angled nozzles (from axis of rotation or pivot).

Placed in fluid tank and made to suck in fluid thru vacuum.

Direction of spin: ?

Literature review on inverse sprinkler

Mach in 1883 explains that the inverse sprinkler does not rotate because there is no reaction force
because fluid is sucked in from all sides.
(E. Mach, The Science of Mechanics: A Critical and Historical Account of its
Development, 4th ed., Chicago: Open Court, (1919), 299-301)

Jenkins theorized that the inverse sprinkler nozzles accelerate towards the incoming water as
dissipative effects results in a small torque.
(A. Jenkins, Sprinkler head revisited: momentum, forces, and flows in Machian
propulsion, European Journal of Physics, 32 (5), 12131226, (2011).

Some inverse sprinklers do not spin at all while others spin slowly towards incoming fluid.
(R. E. Berg and M. R. Collier, The Feynman inverse sprinkler problem: A demonstration
and quantitative analysis, American Journal of Physics, 57(7), 654-657, (1989).
(R. E. Berg et al., University of Maryland Physics Lecture, D3-22:
Inverse Sprinkler - Metal Model, retrieved June 29, 2011.h
ttp://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/facilities/lecdem/services/demos/demosd3/d3-22.html.
(MIT
Edgerton Center Corridor Lab: Feynman Sprinkler. http://edgerton.mit.edu/feynman-sprinkler)

Objective

This study aims to gain a clear new perspective on the inverse sprinkler
problem by greatly simplifying the inverse sprinkler problem down to its basic
structure and physics.

First, the structure of the inverse sprinkler is modelled.

Then, the motion of a single molecule of fluid in the inverse sprinkler is

elementarily analyzed through the Principle of Conservation of Momentum.

Methodology
1. The Modeling of Inverse Sprinkler

The nozzle section of the inverse sprinkler is simplified here into an L

shaped tube with a pivot at the end (Fig. 1), as done by Jenkins [4].

Fig. 1: Simplified L tube model of the nozzle section of the inverse sprinkler.

Pivot = allows spinning motion, vacuum is applied thru it.

= only horizontal forces on the leg can cause spinning.

Methodology
2. The Motion Sequence in Inverse Sprinkler

The sequence of a molecule moving through the length of the leg section is depicted
as in Fig. 2. The momentums of the leg section throughout the sequence are
denoted as PL1 and PL2 while for the single molecule are PF1 and PF2.

Fig. 2: The idealized sequence of a single molecule moving through the leg section

Results & Discussion

1. Frame A

The Frame A in Fig. 2 depicts the initial state before the molecule is sucked
into the leg section.

The velocity of the molecule and also the leg section are zero as they are
initially at rest. So the total momentum of this system is zero.

According to the Principle of Conservation of Momentum, this total

momentum value of zero is to be maintained throughout the sequence.

Results & Discussion

2. Frame B

In Frame B of Fig. 2, the molecule is sucked into the leg section due to
vacuum applied at the pivot of the nozzle.

The velocity of the leg section is negative (towards the left) because it should
be opposite of the velocity of molecule.

Results & Discussion

3. Frame C (i)

First, the completely inelastic collision is analyzed in Frame C (i) of the Fig. 2.

If the completely inelastic collision occurs here, the molecule and the back wall
must move together. Therefore, the velocities after collision of the leg section
(VL2) and the molecule (VF2) are the same and denoted here as V2 = VL2 = VF2.

The molecule and the leg section stop after the completely inelastic collision (if
it occurs).

Results & Discussion

3. Frame C (ii)

The partially inelastic collision is analyzed next in Frame C (ii) of the Fig. 2. In
this collision, the molecule and the leg section moves separately after collision.

The only possibility is for the molecule to move the left while the leg section
moves to the right.

Results & Discussion

4. Motion of Inverse Sprinkler

The flow of the molecules into the inverse sprinkler is continuous.

If the collisions between the back wall of the leg section and molecules are
completely inelastic, then the velocity of the leg section will change from
negative to 0 m/s and then back to negative, continuously. Therefore, the
inverse sprinkler will vibrate slightly and spin slowly towards incoming fluid.

If the collision between the back wall of the leg section and molecules is
partially inelastic or perfectly elastic, then the velocity of the leg section will
change from negative to positive continuously. Therefore the inverse sprinkler
will exhibit slight jerking motion without any real spinning

Conclusion

The inverse sprinkler could either spin slowly towards incoming fluid or just
vibrate without any apparent spinning (depending on the type of collision
occurring at the back wall of the nozzles)

References

[1] R. P. Feynman and R. Leighton. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character). Reprint
ed., W. W Norton & Company Inc, (1997).

[2] J. Gleick, Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman, (New York: Pantheon, 1992), 106-108.

[3] A. Jenkins, An elementary treatment of the reverse sprinkler, American Journal of Physics, 72 (10), 12761282,
(2004).

[4] A. Jenkins, Sprinkler head revisited: momentum, forces, and flows in Machian propulsion, European Journal of
Physics, 32 (5), 12131226, (2011).

[5] E. Mach, The Science of Mechanics: A Critical and Historical Account of its Development, 4th ed., Chicago: Open
Court, (1919), 299-301.

[6] R. E. Berg and M. R. Collier, The Feynman inverse sprinkler problem: A demonstration and quantitative analysis,
American Journal of Physics, 57(7), 654-657, (1989).

[7] R. E. Berg et al., University of Maryland Physics Lecture, D3-22: Inverse Sprinkler - Metal Model, retrieved June
29, 2011. http://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/facilities/lecdem/services/demos/demosd3/d3-22.htm

[8] MIT Edgerton Center Corridor Lab: Feynman Sprinkler. http://edgerton.mit.edu/feynman-sprinkler

[9] J. A. Wheeler, The young Feynman. Physics Today 42 (2), 2428, (1989).
[10] E. C. Creutz, Feynmans reverse sprinkler. American Journal of Physics 73 (3), 198, (2005).