We have now seen that when just after the sand in the hourglass begins to flow the weight read by the scale decreases slightly and just before the sand ceases to flow the weight read by the scale increases slightly. During the steady state flow the weight is very nearly the same as before the flow started and after the flow is completed. This is seen on an mpeg video by clicking your mouse on the photograph below.
The question this week involves exactly what happens during the steady state. Clearly, if there is any deviation it must be small, as seen in the video.
During the steady state fall of the sand, the scale reads:
Click here for Answer #67 after June 4, 2001.
