Research

Pinch-Off

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This high-speed video reveals a fascinating bit of kitchen sink physics.  When a water droplet pinches off from the nozzle, the thin filament of fluid that connected the droplet to the water on the nozzle often breaks off as well.  Surface tension snaps the filament together into a sphere, causing wild oscillations and even ejection of microjets in the tiny satellite droplet. (Video from S. Thoroddsen et al. 2008’s Annual Review)

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