leaf blower


 
Aim a leaf blower staight up. Place a lightweight beach or playground ball in the stream of air. The ball will be suspended a few feet above the blower.
 
One of the principles involved is Bernoulli's Law which says that the pressure exerted by a fluid moving along a surface decreases as the velocity of the fluid increases. If the ball begins to move out of the stream, the faster moving air along the side of the ball that is toward the stream pushes less than the slower moving air on the side of the ball away from the air stream. So the ball is pushed back into the stream. Volleyballs, soccer balls and other such thick wall balls are too heavy. Only lighter balls will work. A size of 10 to 12 inches is suggested. Perform the demo outdoors to lessen chances of damage and to provide adequate space. Leaf blowers can cause ceiling tiles to be dislocated and to fall.