Flow visualization really can be considered a form of art. Though we fluid mechanicians are looking for physics, we’re quite aware of the beauty of what we study. The clips in this video mostly show transient shockwave behavior, including lots of shock reflection and even a few instabilities. It’s unclear what the speeds are, aside from faster than sound; the medium is air.
Category: Art
Marangoni Effect
Dyed milk pulls away after a drop of acetone is added. The acetone creates a gradient in the surface tension, which causes mass flow due to the Marangoni effect. See a video of the effect (or try it yourself at home!) here.
Flying Paint
High speed footage of flying paint demonstrates a world of viscosity and surface tension, as well as another great example of fluid dynamics as art. (via Gizmodo)
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Butterfly Soap Spiral
A stationary soap film disturbed by a flapping foil (seen in the top center) creates a butterfly-like double spiral roll. Two vortices form at the tip of the foil each time it changes direction; look carefully and you can see those tiny vortices all the way through the spirals. (From the 2010 Gallery of Fluid Motion; pdf)
The GE Show
[original media no longer available]
While this video is not strictly about fluid dynamics, there are some pretty cool high-speed fluids moments in it. Watch the reaction of the gelatins as objects hit them and observe the deformation of the water balloons as they strike. (via JetForMe)
Droplet Impact in 3D
This stereo photo of a droplet by John Hart shows the formation of a crown and droplet breakup. It’s possible to see the picture in 3D by crossing one’s eyes. #
Viscous Fingers
This photo shows the Saffman-Taylor instability in a Hele-Shaw cell. Here a viscous fluid has been placed between two glass plates and a second less viscous fluid inserted, resulting in a finger-like instability as the less viscous fluid displaces the more viscous one. This is an effect that can be easily explored at home using common liquids like glycerin, water, dish soap, or laundry detergent. #
Soap Bubble Shapes
The shapes of soap bubbles are determined by surface tension, which ensures the smallest surface area for a given contained volume. (#) Their iridescent colors are created by the interference and refraction of light waves passing through the nonuniform thickness of the bubble, as well as to the motion of the soap mixture itself.
Photo credit: found via fuckyeaheyegasms, originally from teacupofmoons
Leaping Ferrofluid
This video shows some of the dynamic behaviors of a ferrofluid near moving magnetic fields. Ferrofluids are formed from a suspension of ferrous particles in a liquid, usually oil.
The ABCs of Physics
b=buoyancy is part of Ashley JM’s photo set The ABCs of Physics. In her words:
Buoyancy is what causes less dense objects to float in a more dense fluid, such as a helium balloon in air. There is a buoyant force that pushes up on the object, equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.
That little diagram up there is called a force diagram, they can be even more daunting than equations at times. This one shows that the buoyant force up on the balloon is equal to the force of tension in the string, this keeps the balloon in equilibrium.
Be sure to look at the rest of her physics photos! # (via physicsphysics)
