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Hello. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post my question, but I'm posting it in the hope that someone out there can give me a scientific explanation.
I have a GPS suction cup (the part that you stick to the windshield) that I placed on my kitchen counter yesterday without the GPS attached. Every few hours or so the suction cup springs up and falls off the kitchen counter to the kitchen floor for no reason. Why is this? Its kind of freaky the way it just jumps and falls to the ground. We've never seen it do this, but only notice that its fallen when we hear the sound. We dont stick it to any surface. It's not being used for suction. I just brought it in from my car and placed it on my counter. It just sits on the kitchen counter with the suction side up or to the side, not stuck to the surface. Please explain why it just springs up and falls to the floor. Thanks.
The rubber part of the suction cup is like a spring, when you push it down the air inside the cup is expelled. When you let it go this spring action where the cup wants to return to it's original shape creates a vacuum inside the cup. In fact the harder you pull on it the more it wants to stick until the strength of your arm overcomes the force of the vacuum. If the seal is not good and air can get into the cup then eventually the vacum is broken....... *pop*.
Ahhhhh, my bad but I would suggest the spring part applies and for whatever reason the cup is not fully returning to it's shape. Perhaps something to do with temperature differences.
Thank you so much for the explanation. I feel a little relieved that it's not something supernatural. But will the kitchen counter top and a temperate difference cause it to spring and fall to the floor by itself even if it's in a resting position and not suctioned to anything? Thanks again.
It's round. Vibration could cause it to "spin" on it's offset axis and end up rolling off the counter. Does it happen when the dishwasher is running? Do you live next to a busy street with heavy truck traffic? Any construction in the neighborhood?
If you have a camcorder I'd set it up to record the suction cup and see what happens.
I've actually set up my phone now to record it. It's freaking me out because I can't understand why it's happening. If it were to roll of the counter I would hear it rolling off. I don't use a dishwasher, don't live on a busy street, or don't have any construction going on that could cause a vibration. There has to be some explanation. I'm afraid to put it away until I find out what's happening.
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCLiving786
@Retroit....was that supposed to be funny? I really didn't find it amusing. I'm freaked out and trying to find a logical explanation.
He is dead serious !!!
Keep in mind this is a scientific forum, so NO funny stuff here !
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