How does a water jet stop to flow out from a free-falling can?

Abstract

It is well known that a water jet, flowing out from a vessel with a hole that is in rest, stops to flow out if the vessel is in free fall. In this article, we describe a few interesting details of that cease of jet’s flow out. To carry out that aim, we have set up on a platform a transparent vessel, from which a water jet flows, and a camera that can do video-recordings. When the platform is leaved to fall freely, it was possible to film the details of how the initial jet disappears. Various observed phenomena are described and commented. These phenomena are explained in a qualitative manner, using physics concepts. Possible didactic uses of the captured photos promoting active physics learning are suggested.