Quick Answer: The Air Stream Floating Ball Apparatus holds a lightweight ball suspended in a moving air stream, giving school and college physics classes a visible demonstration of the Bernoulli principle, air pressure, lift and drag.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
A moving air stream keeps a light ball floating in a stable position
Illustrates pressure difference, lift, drag, gravity and balanced forces in one set-up
Students observe ball position, air speed, stability and tilt angle
Vertical and angled airflow can be compared, along with how the ball recovers
Suits whole-class demonstrations and supervised small-group work
About This Product
The apparatus turns an abstract fluid-dynamics idea into something a class can watch. With the air source switched on, the ball is placed gently in the stream and settles where airflow, surrounding pressure and gravity balance. Tilting the stream slightly, where the design allows, shows how the ball's position and stability change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why does the ball stay in the air stream? The moving air pushes up on the ball against gravity, while the pressure difference between the fast-moving stream and the still air around it keeps the ball stable. This is the Bernoulli principle the apparatus is designed to show.
Q2. What happens when the air stream is tilted? Where the design permits tilting, students see the ball shift and can observe how its stability changes, which leads into discussion of lift and drag.
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