Granular flows, which are made up of loose particles like sand, often display remarkably fluid-like behavior. Here researchers explore the behavior of granular flows when a solid impacts them at high speed. The sand, unlike a fluid, does not have surface tension, yet we still observe many of the same behaviors. Like a fluid, the sand splashes and creates cavities and jets as it deforms around the fallen object. The sand even “erupts” as submerged pockets of air make their way back to the surface.
Granular Eruptions
