Introduction and Context

Stevin's Theorem

Stevin's Theorem, or Stevin's Principle, is a physical principle that describes the behavior of the pressure of a fluid in gravitational equilibrium. Developed by the Belgian mathematician and engineer Simon Stevin, it represented a significant innovation in understanding how pressure varies in a fluid at rest.

The law of Stevin tells us that the pressure at a point in a liquid is given by the product of the height of the liquid column, the density of the liquid, and the local acceleration due to gravity. This allows us to calculate the pressure at any point in a liquid, whether it be a lake, an ocean, a water bottle, or even the blood flowing in our veins.

Context

This theorem has numerous practical applications in our daily lives, although we often do not realize it. For example, it is thanks to this principle that we can drink water from a glass using a straw. When we suck the air from inside the straw, we create a pressure difference causing the atmospheric pressure to push the water into the straw.

Similarly, Stevin's Theorem has applications in technical and scientific areas. Civil Engineers use it to calculate the pressure that water exerts on reservoirs and dams. Doctors use it to understand blood circulation in the human body.

These are just a few of the many applications of Stevin's Theorem. And you? Can you think of any more?

Activity

Activity Title: "Exploring the Stevin's Theorem through Practical Experiments"

Project Objective:

The objective of this project is to develop an understanding of Stevin's Theorem and its applications, through the creation, execution, and documentation of relevant practical experiments.

Detailed Project Description:

The groups will be responsible for conducting two experiments that demonstrate Stevin's Theorem in action. The first experiment will deal with hydrostatic pressure, while the second experiment will focus on the application of this theorem in the phenomenon of communicating vessels. Students may choose their own experiments, as long as they fit within these topics.

Required Materials:

The necessary materials will depend on the chosen experiments. However, each group will need items such as: transparent containers filled with water or another fluid, a pressure measurement kit, materials for the construction of communicating vessels, among others.

Step-by-Step Guide for the Activity:

1. Research and Planning: The group should research Stevin's Theorem to understand its central concepts and applications. Then, they should plan the two experiments they will conduct, including the list of necessary materials, step-by-step instructions for the experiment, and how the data will be collected.

2. Conducting the Experiments: With the plan in hand, students should follow their instructions to carry out the experiments. During each experiment, they should collect and record the data.

3. Data Analysis: After collecting the data, students should perform calculations and analyses to verify if the results correspond to the predictions made from Stevin's Theorem.

4. Writing the Written Document: Finally, each group member should contribute to writing the document, which will be the final project submission.

Project Deliverables:

At the end of this project, each group must deliver:

• A written document containing:

  1. Introduction: Brief contextualization of Stevin's Theorem, including its relevance and real-world applications.

  2. Development: Description of how the experiments were planned and conducted, theoretical explanations, presentation of collected data, calculations performed, and discussion of results in relation to the theory.

  3. Conclusions: Recap of the main points, explanation of the learnings obtained, and conclusions drawn from the project.

  4. Bibliography: References to books, web pages, videos, etc., that were used in the work.

• Video recording (optional): If possible, each group may also submit a video showing the experiments in action, which will serve as a visual demonstration of the conclusions written in the report.

This project should be done by groups of 3 to 5 students and will take approximately five to ten hours to be completed per participating student. The deadline for submission should be one month from the start date.