How Does a Submarine Dive?
Can you make a submarine dive? Navy sailors do it everyday. Here is an experiment that demonstrates the principle that allow a submarine to dive. All you need is: • a tall, narrow jar (like an olive jar), • a rubber sheet (it would also work to cut the end off a rubber balloon, • a medicine dropper, and • water Here’s what you do: • Fill the jar almost to the top with water. • Put the medicine dropper in and squeeze the bulb just a bit. Allow only enough water into the dropper so that it is just floating at the top. • Now, put the rubber sheet or balloon over the mouth of the jar. Stretch it as far as you can and use the strong rubber band to hold it. • Press down on the sheet with your hand. What happens? Now, remove your hand. What happens? Why? Here’s how it works: When you press on the rubber sheet, the air has less space in the jar and so it pushes down on the water more. This increases the water pressure and adds more water to the dropper. The added water causes the dropper to si
