Day 3 Homer Laughlin and Pascal's Principle

The third day of our trip found us visiting Homer Laughlin China in Newell, WV. Homer Laughlin produces Fiesta Dinnerware, a very popular ceramic set. To be frank, we received one of the most complete and thorough tours we have experienced.

In the morning, our guide took us through the history of Homer Laughlin which originated at the turn of the 20th Century. The company has been passed down through several generations and is an extremely important employer to the region. Moreover, we as consumers can easily expect to see some of their remarkable craftsmanship anywhere from the Green Brier to Applebee's. On a personal note, my mother-in-law has been a collector of a china set named Blue Willow. This particular design was manufactured by none other than Homer Laughlin.

The afternoon tour was an intense experience whereby our guides took us through the entire process to produce several of their best selling products. I was overwhelmed by the eye-opening physics applications used in the manufacturing process. Frankly, we could cover our entire curriculum of this one experience.

One particular concept that which can be seen in the attached photos is Pascal's principle. The manufacturing process relied heavily on the use of hydraulics. And, almost all hydraulic concepts rely on Pascal's Principle; pay particular attention to the cylinders used during compressions and liftings. Let's review Pascal's principle.

Pascal's principle 1tells us that pressure is transmitted undiminished through a confined fluid. It's application is seen everywhere from hydraulic lifts in garages to the very brake system used to stop your vehicle. Yes, Pascal's Principle is used to make the dinner ware you eat off of and to keep you from wrecking your car. Here are the basics:

Pressure (P) equals force divided by area : P = F/A.
Consider a cylinder 1 - it has a piston with an area given as 2pir^2. Cylinder 2 also has a piston with its area as 2pir^2.
P1 = P2 ( Pascal's principle) - input must equal output.
F/A = F/A - input must equal output.

Let's see the principle at work. Suppose we have a hydraulic system with an input cylinder having a piston with a radius of 2cm and an output cylinder with a piston 14cm in radius. Now, if an input force is applied at 200 newtons, what output force must be generated due to Pascal's principle? Please note work/energy is conserved so the input piston must move a greater distance than than the output piston.