The Influence of Airflow Speed on the Buoyancy and Equilibrium Height of Lightweight Spherical Objects

Binhal Hadjail; Ishkrizat Taib; Awang Muhammad Afiq Alli Mat; Aqil Waqiuddin Kamaruddin; Ahamad Mubara Tajul Ariffin; Ridwan Abdurrahman

doi:10.37934/afhme.4.1.1825a

Authors

Binhal Hadjail Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Ishkrizat Taib Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Awang Muhammad Afiq Alli Mat Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Aqil Waqiuddin Kamaruddin Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Ahamad Mubara Tajul Ariffin Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Ridwan Abdurrahman Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, 28293, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/afhme.4.1.1825a

Keywords:

Ball density, airflow speed, equilibrium height, buoyant force, aerodynamic behavior

Abstract

The relationship between object density and equilibrium height in airflow is complex and requires investigation for understanding aerodynamic principles. Thus, this study has investigated the behavior of different density balls in controlled airflow conditions using a hairdryer with variable speeds. Ball samples included a ping pong ball (40 mm diameter), an expanded polystyrene ball (50 mm diameter), and an ocean rubber ball (55 mm diameter), tested at both low and high airflow speeds. Testing of balls under controlled airflow conditions was conducted with different ball densities. For the ping pong ball and expanded polystyrene ball, height differences were observed, with the expanded polystyrene ball achieving the highest equilibrium point. On the other hand, the ocean rubber ball, having the highest density, showed the lowest height difference across both airflow speeds. The expanded polystyrene ball shows efficient height gain in airflow compared to denser balls, demonstrating the inverse relationship between density and equilibrium height