6yo question: Why does the milk jug make that sound...

[*anj*]

when you rinse it out with water?

I was just rinsing a plastic milk jug with water before putting it out for recycling. I turned it upside down to pour out the water, and it made that "glug-glug" sound. He wants to know why it makes that sound. I really don't know. I mean, I guess it has something to do with water displacement and the air to water ratio and the narrowness of the mouth of the jug, but how would you answer that question on his level?

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/confused005.gif (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/%5Burl=http://www.freesmileys.org%5D%5Bimg%5Dhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/confused005.gif%5B/img%5D%5B/url%5D)

[Virginia Dawn]

My father told me it was the Glugs. He had a very elaborate story to explain how the mischievious Glugs had been captured in bottles and you could tell when they were trying to escape.

[Tap, tap, tap]

the water escaping pulls the soft sides inward. Once there is enough force on the sides, they recoil pulling air upward. The noise, I figure, is a combination of the air hitting the bottom (like an air drum), water sloshing and the soft sides recoiling.


To explain it to a young child...have them make the 3 sounds separately themselves.

Have them hit the side of the bottle with the soft part of their finger to make the sound of the air drum, slosh some water in the jug, and push in on the sides and let them listen for the force/recoil sounds.'


I could be completely wrong though, I never really thought about it too much! LOL :D

[Virginia Dawn]

But not only plastic jugs have the Glugs. Even glass bottles do too. :-)

[*anj*]

This is too funny. Dawn, that's a great story!
Tx3: Thanks for your explanation. That makes sense. Now I'll to try it out on him! :001_smile:

[Doran]

when you rinse it out with water?

I was just rinsing a plastic milk jug with water before putting it out for recycling. I turned it upside down to pour out the water, and it made that "glug-glug" sound. He wants to know why it makes that sound. I really don't know. I mean, I guess it has something to do with water displacement and the air to water ratio and the narrowness of the mouth of the jug, but how would you answer that question on his level?

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/confused005.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)


Is it caused by the vacuum that is created when the liquid leaves the bottle and is replaced by the air that comes in? I'm thinking it has something to do with the air passing over the opening as it comes in to fill the space left behind by the liquid.

But, for your little guy, The Glugs is way more fun! :D

[*anj*]

But, for your little guy, The Glugs is way more fun! :D

Way more fun, and then he'll have a fun memory like Dawn does!! :bigear: