Bouncing Liquid Jets : the Role of the Air Film

Abstract

When a jet of canola oil strikes a bath of the same oil within the correct range of speeds and angles, the jet will rebound off the bath back into the air. This project studied the air film which separates the jet from the bath making this phenomenon possible. Using high-speed video, lasers, and flow-tracing with dyes and smoke, visual evidence of the existence of the air film is presented. The processes by which the air film and bounce are maintained are also discussed.