Capillary waves–ripples–interfere with one another after the photographer throws objects into a narrow point in a small lake. The reflections of these waves off the lake’s boundaries and against one another creates a mosaic-like geometric effect on the liquid surface. (Photo credit: Jorgen Tharaldsen/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Tag: fluids as art
INK World v01
In this video, mixtures of inks (likely printer toners) and fluids move and swirl. Magnetic fields contort the ferrofluidic ink and make it dance, while less viscous fluids spread into their surroundings via finger-like protuberances. (Video credit and submission: Antoine Delach)
Laminar Fountain
In the midst of holiday travels, take a moment (particularly if you’re flying through Detroit) to enjoy the simple beauty of WET Design’s fountain in the McNamara Terminal. Laminar jets arc through the air almost like perfect crystalline columns of fluid. Watch closely and you’ll see a few wavy variations–like a Plateau-Rayleigh instability creeping in–but there will be no turbulence to distress passengers and passers-by. (Video credit: WET Design)
Ferrofluid Sculptures
Artist Sachiko Kodama is known for her mesmerizing ferrofluid sculptures. Ferrofluids are a colloidal liquid consisting of nanoscale ferromagnetic particles and a carrier fluid such as water or oil. They can react strongly to magnetic fields, forming spikes, brain-like whorls, and even labyrinths. (Photo credits: Sachiko Kodama; via freshphotons)
Stirring Faces
This video features simulation of the laminar flow around a plate plunging sinusoidally in a quiescent flow. As the plate moves up and down, it mixes the fluid around it. This is visualized in several ways, beginning with the vorticity. Clockwise and anti-clockwise vortices are shed by the edges of the plate as it moves. The flow is also visualized using particle trajectories, which are classified by their tendency to accumulate (attract) or lose (repel) particles. These trajectories are particularly intriguing to watch develop as they appear to show ornate faces and designs. (Video credit: S. L. Brunton and C. W. Rowley)
Saturn’s Polar Vortex
Nothing quite compares to the beauty of fluid dynamics on astronomical scales. What you see here are raw photographs of recent storms at Saturn’s north pole. The recent change in Saturnian seasons has afforded Cassini a sunlit view of the northern pole, which had previously lain in darkness. A roiling vortex filled with clouds being twisted and sheared was revealed near the center of its famed polar hexagon. (Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute; submitted by J. Shoer)
“Kusho”
Artist Shinichi Maruyama uses photography to freeze the transient motion of fluids into water sculptures. Inertia, gravity, and surface tension are at war in each piece. Plateau-Rayleigh instabilities break long filaments of liquid into droplets that splash, collide, and reform. To see how he makes this art, check out his videos. (Photo credits: Shinichi Maruyama)
Microbubble Necklace
When a drop impacts a pool at very low velocity, a thin layer of air can be trapped between the drop and the pool. When this air film ruptures, a ring of microbubbles forms and expands. Multiple “bubble necklaces” can form if the film ruptures at several points. These rings travel outward until the film is completely destroyed, leaving a chandelier-like shape of microbubbles. See the phenomenon in action with one of the videos linked here. (Photo credit: S. T. Thoroddson et al.; see video at arXiv)
The Beauty of the Great Red Spot
Jupiter is home to one of the most famous storms in the solar system, the Great Red Spot, which Earth observations place at a minimum of 180 (Earth) years in duration. Some evidence suggests that it may have been observed by humans as early as 1665. The magnitude of such a storm is almost unimaginable. At its narrowest point, the storm is still as wide as our entire planet and observations from the Voyager crafts indicate that the storm has 250 mph winds. The scale of mixing and turbulence around the storm, seen in photographs, is stunning and beautiful. (Photo credits: NASA/Voyager 1 and Michael Benson; submitted by oneheadtoanother)
Fluidic Public Art by Charles Sowers
Artist Charles Sowers creates exhibits and public art focused on illuminating natural phenomenon that might otherwise go unnoticed, and much of his work features fluid dynamics directly or indirectly. “Windswept” and “Wave Wall” are both outdoor exhibits that show undulations and vortices corresponding to local wind flow. Other pieces explore ferrofluids through magnetic mazes or feature foggy turbulence. My own favorite, “Drip Chamber”, oozes with viscous fluids whose dripping forms patterns reminiscent of convection cells. Be sure to check out his website for videos of the exhibits in action. (Photo credits: Charles Sowers; submitted by rreis)
