Jacob’s Ladder is a fascinating electrical phenomenon that occurs when a high-voltage electric arc travels along a vertical or inclined conducting path, producing a visually striking display resembling a ladder made of light. Named after the biblical story of Jacob’s dream about a ladder reaching into the heavens, the electric arc in Jacob’s Ladder is a captivating and often dramatic display of electrical discharge.

The phenomenon is typically created using a high-voltage power source, such as a Tesla coil or other high-frequency devices, to generate a continuous electric arc. The arc rises due to the heating of the surrounding air, which becomes ionized and rises along the conductive path. The ascending arc creates a dynamic and visually stunning effect that can be both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring.

The floating ball or levitating ball demonstration is an intriguing illustration of the Bernoulli principle, which is a fundamental concept in fluid dynamics. The Bernoulli principle states that as the speed of a fluid (such as air or water) increases, its pressure decreases. This principle is often used to explain the lift generated by airplane wings and the behavior of fluids in various applications.

In the case of the floating ball demonstration, a stream of air is directed upwards through a tapered nozzle. The nozzle’s shape accelerates the air, causing its velocity to increase. According to Bernoulli’s principle, as the air speed increases, the air pressure decreases. Simultaneously, the surrounding atmospheric pressure acts on the surface of the ball, pushing it toward the low-pressure region created by the high-speed air stream.

The result is that the ball appears to defy gravity and “float” in the air stream, seemingly suspended without any visible support. It’s important to note that the ball is not truly levitating; rather, it is being held in place by the balance of forces created by the pressure differential between the fast-moving air and the slower-moving ambient air.

This exhibit shows an object/ body experiences higher average acceleration along a cycloid path and consequently rolls down in quicker time even though the shorter path is straight line.