American Philosophical Society

Title: Cork Balls in Motion

Year: Unknown

Cork Balls in Motion

Material: Paper

Creator: Cornelius Varley

Collection: American Philosphical Society

This object is a hand colored drawing of two cork balls propelled in the air by jets of water. The drawing is depicting “Bernoulli’s Principle.” The increase of water speed around the surface of the cork creates a region of reduced pressure that holds the balls in the jets of water.

This object is important for people interested in science and art. The drawing depicts a scientific principle, but it is also an artisit drawing. Varley created a very accuarte drawing which is important to those who study it. It is also important to those groups of people because it shows the view the mindset of Varley when he was observing this. Those who aren’t interested in science or find scientific concepts to be complicated might not be interested in this object. Since this particular drawng depicts a scientific principle it might be intimidating subject matter. 

Daniel Bernoulli

This object is on display as part of an exhibition showing the art and science of Cornelius Varley’s drawings. It was acquired from a private collection. This particular object is on display because it demonstrates a scientific principle in action. It is a different example of Varley’s drawings compared to the majority of the others exhibited. The object is displayed towards the end of the exhibit on a side wall as a stand alone piece. In the surrounding area there are other drawings of algae and inventions. These other drawings add to your understanding of how Varley viewed what he was studying. It also allows the visitor to compare what details Varley chose to include in one drawing and not in another. The label text is written very simply. It just describes the object and explains the Bernoulli Principle. The wording is easy for every visitor to understand and is free of scientific jargon.

The opposing  point of view of an artist or art critic might tell a different narrative about the object. The details of Varley’s drawings and his artist renderings may be described differently by someone with an art background instead of a science one. Other fields of study and resources about this object might include: Bernoulli, Laws of Motion, drawing, painting, and experiments with water.

To engage viewers with thist object I would do a science demonstration that would re-create what Varley saw when he was drawing. While the demonstration was being done I would have the visitors draw their own rendering of the cork balls.

This would show visitors the science behind the image and allow them to experience the drawing. This way art and science would cross as they did in Varley’s work.