Investigating 3D printed Cartesian Divers

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of 3D printing to experimentally investigate the physics of Cartesian divers, enabling controlled variation of variables and theoretical validation in a home setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach of using 3D printing for hands-on physics experiments, specifically Cartesian divers, suitable for remote learning environments.

Findings

Successful 3D printed Cartesian divers with adjustable variables

Experimental results align with theoretical models

Demonstrates feasibility of remote physics experimentation

Abstract

Despite the difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemics, physics students can tackle interesting questions that are part of physics competitions as the German Physicists' Tournament (GPT) 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemics in 2020, many competitions such as the GPT are held online. Furthermore, the usual options of equipment offered by the supervising university institutions could not be used by the students. The problems of the GPT 2020 therefore had to be chosen in such a way that they could be examined at home using simple means. One of these supposedly simple but profound experiments - the Cartesian divers - is described in this article. By using 3D printing, the relevant variables could be varied in a controlled manner and the theoretical model for Cartesian divers could be examined experimentally.