How does a floating cork accelerometer work?

Question

My friend showed me a homemade accelerometer which consisted of a cork floating at the top of a jar of water. The cork is attached to the bottom of the jar using a length of thread. During sudden movements, the cork moves toward the direction of acceleration which seems to defy Newton's 1st Law of inertia. How does this work?

Answer 1

You'd probably be less surprised by the movement of an air bubble under the same conditions. The water does as expected, piling up in the back, and the air ends up in front. A cork, being less dense than water, will do the same.
We can also describe it as a function of buoyancy. Buoyancy is really just doing the opposite of what an object in a vacuum does. It's what the less dense part of a two-density mixture is subject to. It's an example of a general rule followed by liquids: assume the state of lowest potential energy, densest matter at the bottom, least dense at the top. Top and bottom are defined by the local g. Buoyancy normally acts upwards, with the upward reaction force of gravity. That's how convection and common flotation work. In the case you describe, the acceleration is a combination of upward due to gravity reaction and forward due to the acceleration of the jar. The thread more or less opposes the gravity buoyancy leaving only the horizontal component.

Answer 2

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Floating floors can be installed over tile as long as the tile is level and even. If the tiles are uneven then the floating floor will also be uneven and could crack at the joints, depending how it is made and just how uneven the floor below is. Cork is an excellent option for a kitchen, but make sure to apply a urethane clear-coat over it to seal the joints and prevent water from penetrating to the substrate material below the cork. The cork itself is resistant to mold and mildew and water damage, but the layers of the floating floor system below the cork are not, so do it properly so you won't be having to redo it again too soon. Good luck!

Answer 3

Cork flooring is a wonderful and environmentally responsible option. Be sure to seal it up fully. Not sure why your dad controls your life so fully, but it would be a better installation over a proper substrate (base) than the tile, as has been pointed out, and not laid loose. I have cork in two rooms of my house and am very happy with it in every respect.

Answer 4

Homemade Accelerometer