Physicists are captivated by complex mysteries, ranging from the fundamental nature of space and time to the origins of the universe. Surprisingly, spinning lawn sprinklers have also piqued their interest. When placed in a tank of water and made to suck the water in, the behavior of the sprinkler becomes a perplexing question. Different physicists have proposed conflicting theories, leading to a clash of experiments. To unravel this enigma, applied mathematician Leif Ristroph and his team at New York University conducted meticulous experiments and mathematical calculations. Their efforts revealed that when the sprinkler operates in reverse, it spins in the opposite direction, a phenomenon that was previously unexplained. The team also discovered that the reverse operation causes jets of water to form within the sprinkler itself, creating asymmetrical vortices. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics of the reverse-operating sprinkler, as reported in a paper accepted to Physical Review Letters.
2024-01-24 08:00:00
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