SYMMES TWP., Ohio - What started as a paper assignment for an advance placement physics class at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy high school has sprung into a high-tech fountain of dancing water.
“The basic essence of our fountain lies in the center of our fountain, which holds nine vertical jets,” Mikey Taylor told WCPO while displaying the prototype.
It was designed by Taylor and fellow seniors Johnathan Sequeira and Adam Rice for the purpose of creating 3-D artistic fluid images.
“We wanted this so we could do fun designs, spell out letters,” Taylor said.
Each jet has an adjustable height.
“The different square patterns are 45 degrees offset, but they're 90 degrees from each individual nozzle,” said Rice.
“It's like with a garden hose,” said Sequeira, “whereas (when) you pinch the hose, the water comes out faster so that the same amount of water is flowing out at the same time. But instead of pinching the hose, we're adding another hole in the hose.”
Sebastian Rodriguez stole the power supply from a computer and wired the circuits to the valves on the fountain.
It was impressive work even to long-time physics teacher Dr. Lu Taylor.
“This is just a paper exercise that I've done for years, but never before have students elevated the process to this level,” Taylor said.
Just ask the professional they brought in to oversee.
Dave Zambenedetti, owner/engineer of Pond and Lake, sees these concepts coming to the Home and Garden show.
“I'm a little worried about job security,” Zambenedetti said.
Wait until they turn the prototype into a permanent fountain for the campus.
“The 3-D jets here just have nine vertical jets. They want 49," Taylor said.
Who's going to pay for that?
That's the job of marketing student Zachary Gunlock, who created the placards to help with fundraising.
"Working with real world products costs a lot of money, but they get a real world education, so that's why it's really important," Gunlock said.
When it's all said and done, Taylor is one proud teacher.
"To have kids coming in on Friday nights and weekends on their own time just motivated and passionate about building is just a dream come true for any teacher, right?" she said.
The full-scale permanent fountain is set to be built by June of 2018.
