Dynamics of the Fluctuating Flying Chain

Abstract

A chain which is made to flow from a container, forms a striking arch that rises well above the container top. This phenomenon is caused by the well known Mould effect and is explained by a supply of momentum from the container, causing an upwards kick. Here we introduce a theory that allows for dynamic fluctuations of the chain and compare with corresponding simulations and experiments. The predictions for the chain velocity and fountain height agree well with experiments. We also explore the underlying mechanism for this momentum transfer for different chain models and find that it depends subtly on the nature of the chain as well as on the container.