The Rubens’ Tube: Physics + Fire = Awesome!

By Queuebot in Music, Science & Tech, Video Clips on Feb 12, 2009 at 5:21 pm


[YouTube - Link]


Physics can be fun if you don’t have to take a test.  The scientific principles behind the Rubens’ Tube (showing standing waves) involved in this demonstration are explained at Wikipedia, but are more dramatically illustrated in the video.

– via dilidoo

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Minnesotastan.


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  1. Gauldar
    Feb 12th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    Saw this on MythBusters.

  2. zedomax
    Feb 12th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    This is old, I saw this like in 2006.

  3. clayton
    Feb 12th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    oldie but goodie.

    p.s. pbs once aired a television show by the name of “texas ranch house.” this show and other’s like it were based on the original “victorian house???.” “frontier house” was the best. back to my original thought, wasn’t the guy in this vid one of the cowhands from “texas ranch house.”???

  4. Gonzo
    Feb 12th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    When the heavy-metal comes on, the flames dance fiendishly. (making the sign of the devil)

  5. eni
    Feb 12th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    Too bad that wasn’t actually heavy metal, huh?

  6. Phos
    Feb 12th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    Discovered this about 20 years ago. I found that the proper pure feedback tone from my guitar could extinguish the kerosene heater I had lit on the other side of the living room.

    It was quite the parlor trick to perform for visiting friends who hadn’t seen it before.

  7. Lucas
    Feb 13th, 2009 at 12:16 am

    15 years ago I play heavy metal in a basement, and when the drummer (Francisco Dramis) hit his snare drum the flames on a kerosene heater go wild and rise so much.
    Are the same Principles?
    Hace 15 aƱos tocaba Heavy Metal en un sotano y cuando el baterista golpeaba su tambor las llamas de una estufa a querosen se enloquecian y elevaban mucho…
    Es por los mismos principios?
    Sorry for my english…

  8. Ali S.
    Feb 13th, 2009 at 2:27 am

    Witchcraft I tells ya!

  9. Gerry
    Feb 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Surprised that bands haven’t adapted this on the edges of stages.

    On a geekier side, the flame oscilloscope was invented way back in 1862: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koenig%27s_manometric_flame_apparatus

  10. heather
    Feb 13th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Coool! I’m surprised rock concerts don’t have this as a stage effect yet.


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