Visualizing Air Around a Splashing Drop

POSTER

Abstract

It is well known that when a drop impacts a surface at a large enough velocity it will splash. ~However, it was recently discovered that removing the surrounding air from a drop can suppress splashing completely. ~This discovery still remains unexplained. ~Not only is it not understood why the air matters but it is also not even known where the liquid-air interaction is important: ~Is it beneath the drop, is it at the drop's edge or is it at the drops upper surface? ~~Using modified schlieren optics combined with high-speed video imaging, we were able to visualize vortices in the air~that were created when the drop~spread out rapidly after~hitting the substrate. ~~These vortices~varied with impact velocity and splash type. ~We are currently measuring the strength of forces created by the air on the upper surface of the drop in order to confirm our tentative conclusion that~it is the air above the spreading drop that plays the dominant role in creating a splash.

Authors

  • Kelly W. Mauser

    Department of Physics, Colorado State University

  • Norm Buchanan

    Brigham Young University, Stanford University, University of Central Florida, NCAR/High Altitude Observatory, Arizona Vitro-retinal consultants, University of Michigan, Arizona State University, University of Denver, Arizona State University Dept of Physics, Arizona State University Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, LASP, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for Atmospheric and Space Science, Utah State University, Dixie State College, Utah, USU Materials Physics Group, UVU Physics Department, Box Elder Innovations, Space Telescope Science Institute, Northern Kentucky University, Retired, Utah Valley University, Univ. of California, Los Angelos, Colorado State University, St. Petersburg Electro-technical University, Universidad Nacional Aut\'onoma de M\'exico, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, University of Wurtzberg, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, LANL, UCLA, Max-planck-Institut f\"{u}r Astronomie, W. M. Keck Observatory, University of Arizona, Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, IBM Systems and Technology Group, IBM Research Division, T.J. Watson Research Center, Sandia National Laboratory, NMSU, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, James Franck Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, JISAO, University of Washington, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, NorthWest Research Associates, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Utah State University, New Mexico Tech, University of Cambridge, Los Alamos National Laboratory, RAPTOR Science, Institute of Space and Astronomical Science, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Weber State University, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, BYU Physics, Physics Department, University of Arizona, ABQMR, University of Colorado at Boulder, SNL and CINT, Los Alamos National Lab, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of Arizona, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of New Mexico, University of Calgary, Colorado School of Mines

  • Norm Buchanan

    Brigham Young University, Stanford University, University of Central Florida, NCAR/High Altitude Observatory, Arizona Vitro-retinal consultants, University of Michigan, Arizona State University, University of Denver, Arizona State University Dept of Physics, Arizona State University Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, LASP, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for Atmospheric and Space Science, Utah State University, Dixie State College, Utah, USU Materials Physics Group, UVU Physics Department, Box Elder Innovations, Space Telescope Science Institute, Northern Kentucky University, Retired, Utah Valley University, Univ. of California, Los Angelos, Colorado State University, St. Petersburg Electro-technical University, Universidad Nacional Aut\'onoma de M\'exico, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, University of Wurtzberg, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, LANL, UCLA, Max-planck-Institut f\"{u}r Astronomie, W. M. Keck Observatory, University of Arizona, Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, IBM Systems and Technology Group, IBM Research Division, T.J. Watson Research Center, Sandia National Laboratory, NMSU, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, James Franck Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, JISAO, University of Washington, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, NorthWest Research Associates, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Utah State University, New Mexico Tech, University of Cambridge, Los Alamos National Laboratory, RAPTOR Science, Institute of Space and Astronomical Science, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Weber State University, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, BYU Physics, Physics Department, University of Arizona, ABQMR, University of Colorado at Boulder, SNL and CINT, Los Alamos National Lab, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of Arizona, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of New Mexico, University of Calgary, Colorado School of Mines