(A) Water flowing between the sphere and its shaped holder lifts the ball slightly.
(B) Water flows over the sides into a reservoir.
(C) Water is pumped back in an endless loop.
(D) Pump.
(E) Ball can easily be moved by hand.
A kugel fountain (also called a floating sphere fountain or by the pleonasmic name kugel ball) is a water feature or sculpture where a sphere sits in a fitted hollow in a pedestal, and is supported by aquaplaning on a thin film of water. Pressurized water flows between the sphere and socket, creating a mechanical hydrostatic bearing that is nearly frictionless. The sphere can weigh thousands of kilograms, but the efficient bearing allows it to be spun by the force of a hand. The sphere does not float, being denser than water; it is often made from granite.[1] The hydraulics of the fountain can be controlled so that the axis of rotation of the sphere changes continually.[2] Ring sculptures that rotate on an axis are also built.[2][3]
Kugel fountains can be found all over the world. Many are at popular tourist destinations, such as science museums,[4] shopping centers, lobbies, and gardens.
Kugel is the German word for ball or sphere.[5]
- ^ Snoeijer, Jacco H.; van der Weele, Ko (November 2014). "Physics of the granite sphere fountain" (PDF). American Journal of Physics. 82 (11): 1029–1039. Bibcode:2014AmJPh..82.1029S. doi:10.1119/1.4886365. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Floating Sphere (Kugel ball fountain) from the market leader | KusserUSA". www.kusserusa.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Ring water feature". Brahma Granitech, India. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ^ Amanda Oaks, Richmond in the Record Books, Richmond.com, 18 August, [2004], Retrieved 18 September 2007
- ^ "German-English dictionary: Kugel translation". Reverso.net. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.