Holi, the festival of colors, offers a fantastic opportunity to explore various physics concepts in a fun and engaging way. Let's dive into some key principles of physics that are at play during Holi!
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1. Scattering of Light – Why Do We See Colors?
The colors we see in Holi powders (gulal) are due to scattering and absorption of light.
Rayleigh Scattering: When sunlight passes through the fine particles of gulal in the air, shorter wavelengths (blue, violet) scatter more, making the atmosphere appear slightly bluish.
Mie Scattering: If the gulal particles are larger, they scatter all wavelengths almost equally, producing a white or pale glow.
Each colored powder absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others, which is why we see different hues like red, green, or yellow.
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2. Surface Tension – How Water Balloons Burst
Throwing water balloons is a Holi tradition. The physics behind their bursting lies in surface tension and pressure.
A balloon holds water due to the elasticity of the rubber and the surface tension of water inside.
When the balloon hits a surface, the force of impact overcomes the internal pressure, breaking the rubber and splashing water everywhere.
Fun Fact: A fuller balloon bursts more easily than a partially filled one because the stretched rubber is thinner and weaker.
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3. Projectile Motion – Throwing Water Balloons and Pichkaris
When you throw a water balloon or spray color from a pichkari (water gun), it follows a parabolic trajectory due to projectile motion.
The path depends on initial velocity and angle of projection.
Gravity pulls the water down, while air resistance slows it.
To hit a friend at a distance, aim at an optimal 45-degree angle for maximum range.
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4. Capillary Action – How Colors Spread on Clothes
When wet colors touch your clothes, they spread due to capillary action—the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without external forces.
This happens because of cohesion (water molecules sticking together) and adhesion (water molecules sticking to fabric fibers).
The finer the fabric, the faster the color spreads!
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5. Newton’s Third Law – Reaction Forces in Pichkari
Newton’s Third Law states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When you push water out of a pichkari, the backward force (reaction) pushes the pichkari slightly back.
Similarly, when you throw a bucket of water, your hands feel a backward push!
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6. Friction – Why Colors Stick to Skin and Clothes
The sticking of colors depends on friction between the powder particles and your skin/clothes.
Rough surfaces (dry skin or cotton fabric) hold color better due to increased friction.
Smooth surfaces (oily skin or synthetic clothes) allow colors to wash off easily.
Tip: Apply oil before Holi to reduce friction and make colors easier to remove!
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Conclusion: Science Makes Holi More Fun!
Holi isn't just about colors; it's a real-life physics experiment! Next time you play Holi, notice these principles in action and appreciate the science behind the fun.
Physics (11th and 12th) by Er GK Singh
Physics Behind Holi: A Colorful Perspective(@physicsbyergksingh )
Holi, the festival of colors, offers a fantastic opportunity to explore various physics concepts in a fun and engaging way. Let's dive into some key principles of physics that are at play during Holi!
---
1. Scattering of Light – Why Do We See Colors?
The colors we see in Holi powders (gulal) are due to scattering and absorption of light.
Rayleigh Scattering: When sunlight passes through the fine particles of gulal in the air, shorter wavelengths (blue, violet) scatter more, making the atmosphere appear slightly bluish.
Mie Scattering: If the gulal particles are larger, they scatter all wavelengths almost equally, producing a white or pale glow.
Each colored powder absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others, which is why we see different hues like red, green, or yellow.
---
2. Surface Tension – How Water Balloons Burst
Throwing water balloons is a Holi tradition. The physics behind their bursting lies in surface tension and pressure.
A balloon holds water due to the elasticity of the rubber and the surface tension of water inside.
When the balloon hits a surface, the force of impact overcomes the internal pressure, breaking the rubber and splashing water everywhere.
Fun Fact: A fuller balloon bursts more easily than a partially filled one because the stretched rubber is thinner and weaker.
---
3. Projectile Motion – Throwing Water Balloons and Pichkaris
When you throw a water balloon or spray color from a pichkari (water gun), it follows a parabolic trajectory due to projectile motion.
The path depends on initial velocity and angle of projection.
Gravity pulls the water down, while air resistance slows it.
To hit a friend at a distance, aim at an optimal 45-degree angle for maximum range.
---
4. Capillary Action – How Colors Spread on Clothes
When wet colors touch your clothes, they spread due to capillary action—the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without external forces.
This happens because of cohesion (water molecules sticking together) and adhesion (water molecules sticking to fabric fibers).
The finer the fabric, the faster the color spreads!
---
5. Newton’s Third Law – Reaction Forces in Pichkari
Newton’s Third Law states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When you push water out of a pichkari, the backward force (reaction) pushes the pichkari slightly back.
Similarly, when you throw a bucket of water, your hands feel a backward push!
---
6. Friction – Why Colors Stick to Skin and Clothes
The sticking of colors depends on friction between the powder particles and your skin/clothes.
Rough surfaces (dry skin or cotton fabric) hold color better due to increased friction.
Smooth surfaces (oily skin or synthetic clothes) allow colors to wash off easily.
Tip: Apply oil before Holi to reduce friction and make colors easier to remove!
---
Conclusion: Science Makes Holi More Fun!
Holi isn't just about colors; it's a real-life physics experiment! Next time you play Holi, notice these principles in action and appreciate the science behind the fun.
7 months ago | [YT] | 5