the presentation of this app is really good of course, it could just be an audio file that you play, but the rotating "fan" which you can actually interact with really sells the illusion

That's... quite incredible. If I heard about such app without seeing it in action - I wouldn't have believed.

No magic here, just physics. What impresses me the most is the ability of that tiny speaker to be able to move that much air.

Wow. You teach very intuitively and many of these subjects are actually nuances in science education. Watching your explanations makes me feel smarter :) . If more people understood these principles, the world would be a much nicer place. You have a powerful brain!

As someone who works with speakers for a living, I'd like to give everyone a friendly fore-warning. This is a cool parlor trick to move air - - but it's not good for your iPhone's speaker (or really any loudspeaker for that matter). When a speaker's surround excursion gets broad to move air like this, it is put under a great deal of stress. Over time, the surround will weaken and rattles will develop. Distortions will grow and in many old iPhones ....you'll notice that the speakers can sound "crackily". Apple and the other manufacturers work hard to develop tiny speakers that produce a full frequency response inside of your phone. I really rely on it and use it a lot. And for the cost of an advanced phone these days - - I'd rather take care of it so that it lasts as long as possible! Addendum: playing the speaker at fixed low frequencies and high volume for periods of time will also heat up the surface mount audio amplifier, reducing not only it's life but also the nearby components on the board (and who knows what that part may be in a crammed iPhone)

The most amazing thing about this channel is how many ideas for videos he comes up with. Sometimes, the explanations are simple and sometimes they reveal some complex or hidden phenomenon, but the result is always fascinating. In addition to being very technically knowledgeable, The Action Lab is extremely creative! It inspires millions to learn about science and to be curious.

I love learning about sound waves! I was so scared when you put your phone near the flame I thought it would get burned!

Dude, I love your videos. I always learn something new, and you explain really well.

Always knew fans make a sound. Never knew sounds make a fan.

some guy: “OH! A FIRE!!!!” the other guy: “its alright bro, i got an app for this”

Never thought I would ever hear the connection of words "sucking and blowing" on this channel 😂 Overall great viď as always.

“It has to do with the difference between sucking and blowing” -The Action Lab 2021

I remember watching a video with a sound like that just to release the water in my phone

I just finished physics, i didn't expect to take an extra class 😂 especially because you are super oddly similar to my teacher. But that was amazing as always, you are genuinely one of the best channels on youtube, your videos can't get boring.

Most of my college years I spent rigging subwoofers for people's rigs. Of course speakers can create positive air pressure. Just ask anyone with an inverted subwoofer box, carrying two 12-inch, 1000W subs with holes on the sides. It definitely creates an intense force. Same principle, different scale, different frequency.

I've definitely noticed while playing my Quest 2 that, when the volume is cranked, certain sounds will actually blow air across my head/ ears, I don't think it was actually a planned feature but it does work to increase my immersion

You literally finally gave me the answer to how sub-woofers create so much air when you listen to music loud, while they in fact just vibrate so the sum of air moved is zero. Now I know... it's just because when it pushes out it's coherent, but when it sucks in, it's not :)

the fact you said "It has to do with the difference between sucking and blowing" with a straight face is a marvel of scientific wonder

That's a pretty incredible explanation, thanks Sir!

That's so amazing, James! Thank you

The content he puts out is like no one else, ive never seen anyone making science this fun and interesting

3:23 "Difference between sucking and blowing" ☠️

I knew it! kept thinking, it had to be sound it has to do with sound. Its cool how someone made this an app.

Great video as always! So how much did it cost for you to replace the burnt speaker?

Interesting explanation - I presumed the app was using sawtooth waves, so in was gradual and out was a snap push. Did NOT expect a sine to have enough range. Well done.

So basically, soundwaves are anxiety inducing hyperventilation of breathing.

nice video haha ^^ .. i already had that app on one of my first iPhones ten years ago or so XD ... cool to see the mechanics explained ^^

Now I need an app that reads your mind and gives your thoughts a tangible form so everything you think of will be materialized.

Imagine adding to your resume that made an app that blows candles.

3:09 you said that like you’ve said that before 😂

It's very comforting to know that if I ever forget the difference between sucking and blowing, I can always come back to this video.

The key to this action is that when air enters, it comes from all directions. But exists in one direction.

Whoever thought of this is genius. I miss the apps that used the reverse effect. When you blow into the microphone to blow stuff away. Phones have many interesting even unintended functions that just died out because people lost interest.

Mighty interesting! I’ve studied music technology & sound design, and even have developed mobile audio apps for a couple of years, but never considered the air coherency stuff you discussed in this video. Thanks!

i didn’t expect to be brought back to my physics class but i am not disappointed

Looks like this will be one hell of a birthday party.

Your videos never disappointed me..... Incredible concepts in a quick and understandable video. Great.

Thanks for this. Nicely explained. I'd like to suggest using smoke from an incense stick or the like, instead of the flame, for exploring the flow patterns. Less risky and I think with a longer-affected column. On a somewhat tangential note, I think an incense stick or the like could be used to measure the airflow in a room. This is especially useful in the time of COVID. Good airflow and exchange is as useful as masks are. This is unfortunately hard to do in a restaurant, but meeting rooms, classrooms, etc., it can help.

We could preinstall big speaker systems generating the right frequency in areas where fire/smoke is detected, effectively replacing sprinklers or adding to them.

This is the best advertisement of an app

"it's to do with the difference between sucking and blowing" A principal not unique to extinguishing 🕯️🕯️🕯️

4:02 no comments about that

Yep its cool. I have played with sound my whole life. Its fun. All my life i played with big speakers and what sound can do. Its Frequency. You can make things float on sound with big speakers and sound way up. I have done that a whole lot.

This reminded me of the accretion disk around a black hole which looks like the air being sucked in and the jets are the air being pushed out.

Ah man I love this! I've always been so fascinated with sound waves. I actually did this for my first science experiment at school and then after doing some research I found out that sound levitation and frequency are completely misunderstood

Thank you for teaching me so much stuff over the years I didnt even know I needed to know lol it's always super interesting and crazy I just learned so much about sound and air

This app done changed the whole firefighting industry

3:22 thanks for the clarification 😂

This is why my subwoofer blows my hair about when I turn the volume up in my car. Feels like a constant stream of air going round. Great explanation! I already knew this, but nice to see visual examples with the vacuum cleaner. You're great at explaining things. :)

Same principle as what the two engineering students from George Mason University who invented a new fire extinguisher, capable of putting out flames by manipulating sound waves. Very thorough thanks for the extended explanation, very interesting. Keep up the great content!

*Wow now I can finally use this app to blow candles in my birthday cake thanks*

"Blows really well" I died.

You should link the app in the description!

That's extremelly informative and cool Dude, seriously, you took a simple topic and explained it into a creative informative educative and enterteining way, now I understand why my case fans doesnt blow more air when I take the frontal plate off, because the frontal plate has air entrances on the side so it sucks almost the same ammount of air as if there was nothing in front of the fans

I was like "ayo watch the fire ay- WATCH THE FIRE MAN"

When I saw the first part of this video I hurried to check if it was uploaded in April 🤣😂

"You can see the difference between sucking and blowing here" -The Action Lab, 2021

When I first saw your channel I really thought it was just another hydraulic press channel copycat thing, but over the years I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of content you upload. I am glad I didn't unsubscribe, you deserve it man. ^^

I already knew the answer; but, I still enjoyed you explaining it.

The fan on the app that you can interact with definitely sells the Illusion

I knew if this was true it would have to be the waves, but I was stumped on the same "zero sum game" thing. The fact about blowing generating more coherent air compared to suction was fascinating and somehow escaped me all my life despite encountering it all the time.

"So how'd you break your phone?" "Accidentally sucked a candle into the speaker"

Great video brother , Very nice explanation

man a hundred phones might be able to blow out a whole birthday cake, technology

Well, I'm a qualified sound technician and I don't remember this ever being explained to me. It's counter-intuitive. So this would only work when the displaced air is passing through a small hole (relative to air displacement over time). So it would create this concerntated ("coherant") air flow during the positive pressure phase. Cool.

This channel is where physics videos were 10 years ago and I like it reminds me of simpler times

this is similar to those put put boats (toy boat powered by a candle) it just pushes and pulls water, but because the pull is conteracted and the push isn't, the boat moves.

that app blows candles faster than me on my sister’s birthday

There's actually a fire extinguisher that uses sound that was developed by students at George Mason University in Virginia. It's being tested for wild fires here in California

4:57 that what she said

Seriously gives that vibe of those apps that make your flashlight as bright as the sun. I was so confused when it actually worked 💀

Requirements : Headphone Jack Modern Phones :

04:22 "the sucker"

Can we appreciate him for never making us bored

It quietly makes high frequent insults to the fire that can’t be heard by the human ear and the fire starts to feel bad about yourself thus goes out

Really interesting this video. I start thinking about sound and I asked myself if it could be possible that sound waves may have some weight and for that reason I started to search and I found out an article that explains how sound waves carry small amounts of mass. Therefore we can tell that sound has weight but it looks like it's only theoretical. Nevertheless it's very interesting. I really like The Action Lab because it makes me think about stuff completely unrelated to my field of studies! Cool! Thank you Action-Lab-Guy-That-I-Don't-Know-The-Name 😎

This guy actually keeps his phones speakers near the candle flame; big respect you ;)

3:24 caught me off guard. Was about to spit out my coffee.

that is honestly so cool

Awesome explanation.

The only thing I was missing was an animation of particles moving incoherently during the sucking-phase and then particles moving coherently, as a stream, during the blowing-phase. Anyway, great explanation with adequate level of detail!

1:26 man's so rich he's just blowing cocaine around with his phone

Thanks!!

Ahhhh the cool "utility" apps in the first iphones like the 3 and 3gs. Twas fun having this as kids in school

Love the video, love the channel. I'm just wondering if a sawtooth wave could be as or more effective than a sine wave; would it force air more efficiently or just make it sound cooler?

That is also why pop-pop tin boats move. (Aside from more also very interesting stuff that keeps them running for however long the candle provides enough heat) - Great vid!

Me before watching the video: “Ofcourse it’s fake, it’s sound waves” Me watching the video: “Holy shit I’m a genius….”

Whats the app for android

Ah I made a fire extinguisher based in the same concept but used a whole Bluetooth bass speaker, for my interschool competition. The best it could do was a couple of candles from a short distance. Controlled the frequency using Phone app. We did won the competition. Glad to seeing it getting explained on KZfaq.

NETFLIX : Are you still watching? SOMEONE'S Daughter : 03:23 / 04:03

The added sound is hilarious

When your phone has an actual fan tho

Thanks very much for your video! You nailed it from every angle, including the physics in such detail. Indeed, the assymetry is an essential part of Nature. Matter can have pressure to push/blow, but to pull/suck we need dark energy (a Dark Sucker app? hmm...). Really cool. Thanks, Qneo

You can demo sound just being air blown about really well with subwoofers in a car. The subwoofers will be separate in an enclosure in the boot/trunk but still easily flap the air around Inside the car. I even had an odd experience when I wired one of two subwoofers incorrectly so that one sub completely canceled out the sound of the other sub. Moving the stereo balance left to right had loud sound on either left or right but no sound when it was both. Luckily my dad realised what it was as soon as I explained it, they were going out of phase I think they call it?

Damn, his vacuum cleaner sounds like a vacuum cleaner 😂😂

I can't wait to see people using this app and melt their cases 😂😂

Great explanation! First i thought it's impossible, because i imagined waves travelling, but this coherent thing "blowed" my mind 👌🏻

1:22 ya know got to dust off my left over coke before I start anew

Great, now I have to celebrate my phone’s birthday every year!

There should be a pitch where the speaker gives the most amount of air push (a sweet spot) where the pitch is as low as possible without dropping in sound pressure level. Would be awesome to know this pitch! haha