Celebrating the physics of all that flows with Nicole Sharp, Ph.D.
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Getting Cold
Just as some chemical reactions produce heat, many chemical combinations absorb heat. In “Getting Cold,” the Beauty of Science team demonstrates this by showing endothermic processes in both visible and infrared light. Combinations that appear humdrum from our normal perspective suddenly become vibrant and interesting when we see the temperature variations accompanying them. Evaporation is a good example. As…
Explosive Flame Fronts
Though they look like jellyfish or space creatures, these images from photographer Linden Gledhill are actually explosions. What you’re seeing is the detonation of hydrogen gas with oxygen. The teal sphere with its wavy surface marks the flame front, and the crisp, stringy edges seen here and there in the foreground are the remains of…
Calimero’s Uprising!
Here on FYFD posts often focus on research results, with animations and images showing only a tiny portion of the apparatus necessary to conduct that work. But in this timelapse, we get to see a glimpse of what it takes to make the research happen. The video covers a 12-week period in which student Sietze…
The Drama of Turbulence
Photographer Jason Wright captures dramatic views of Hawaiian landscapes. Moments like these remind us of the spectacular power of the ocean and atmosphere around us. Just look at all that incredible turbulence! See more of Wright’s work on his Instagram and website. (Image credit: J. Wright; via Colossal)
Superheating
Being hot isn’t always enough to make water boil. To form vapor bubbles, water and other liquids need imperfections that serve as seeds. In the absence of these, the liquid can become superheated, reaching temperatures higher than its boiling point without forming bubbles. Superheated water can be quite dangerous because it appears to be cooler, but…
Waterspouts
Despite their ominous appearance, these waterspouts – like most of their kind – are fair-weather phenomena unrelated to tornadoes. They can form when cold, dry air moves over warm waters. As warm, moist air rises from the water’s surface, air is drawn in from the surroundings to replace it. Any vorticity in that air comes with it, growing stronger…
Avoiding Shear Thickening
Many substances – like the cornstarch and water mixture above – exhibit a property called shear-thickening. In these fluids, deforming them quickly causes the viscosity to increase dramatically. That shear-thickening occurs when particles inside the fluid jam together, creating large chains able to resist the force being applied. That’s why the oobleck on this vibrating speaker can sustain these “cornstarch monsters”.…
Seeing Sound
It’s not always easy to imagine how waves travel, but with this demonstration, you can see sound waves and how they reflect and defract. The set-up uses schlieren optics that show light and dark bands where strong changes in density take place. This, combined with a stroboscopic light, makes it possible to see the wave fronts from…
Making Giant Soap Bubbles
Making soap bubbles is fun, but there’s something about gigantic soap bubbles that brings out the child in everyone. The world’s largest freestanding soap bubble had more than 100 square meters of surface area, which begs an important question: how can such a thin film stay stable at that size? The solutions used for giant bubbles have…
How to Build a Lava Moat
If you’re looking for a new and impractical way to protect your home, here’s a great option: a lava moat. Nothing says “Don’t try to knock on my door” like a glowing inferno of molten rock. And Minute Physics – along with xkcd – has put together a short, handy guide to some of the…