This video describes how the sun’s energy drives wind and ocean currents on earth. As solar winds stream forth from the sun, our magnetosphere deflects the brunt of the impact Keep reading
Month: March 2020
Traffic Fluid Dynamics
What does traffic have to do with fluid dynamics? Rather a lot, actually! Many parallels exist between traffic and compressible fluid flow. One such example, the concept of a shock Keep reading
Volcanic Vortices
The volcanoes of the South Sandwich Islands, located in the South Atlantic, have a notable effect on cloud formation in this satellite photo. Visokoi Island, on the right, sheds a Keep reading
New CPU Fan
This video discusses a new quieter and more efficient CPU fan developed by engineers at Sandia National Labs. As the impeller spins, it draws ambient air down the center of Keep reading
Schlieren Montage
Dr. Gary Settles, a world-reknown expert in schlieren photography, shows here a montage of some of his lab’s results, including shockwaves from musical instruments, dogs sniffing, guns firing (both sub- Keep reading
The Vibrating Network
We’ve seen the Faraday instability on vibrating fluids (and granular materials) before. Here researchers explore the effect on a a network of fluid-filled cells. Each square is filled with liquid Keep reading
Inky Vortex
Ink released into water shows the swirling motion inside a vortex ring as well as its deformation and breakup upon stagnation against a wall. Although humans are known to make Keep reading
Labyrinth
A labyrinthine pattern forms in this timelapse video of a multiphase flow in a Hele-Shaw cell. Initially glass beads are suspended in a glycerol-water solution between parallel glass plates with a central Keep reading
“Cascades”
Ryan Teague’s “Cascades” music video features the enchanting process of ice growth. A chamber full of supercooled water vapor subject to a strong electric field is stimulated to grow crystals Keep reading
Viscous Dripping
Artist Skye Kelly’s “Creep (strain)” sculpture shown above is made from toffee. The viscous fluid deforms under the force of gravity, resulting in elongated drips and slow jets that buckle Keep reading