Shock Wave Fronts demo
Hydraulic Jump

 

Code Number: 3B45.13

Demo Title: Shock Wave Fronts - Hydraulic Jump

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Meeting of Two Wave Fronts, Plasma Interactions

Area of Study: Solar and Galactic Astronomy

Equipment: 

1 Foot Cube Water Tank with 10 Inch Cube Tank to Fit Inside It, Water Hose, Video Camera, and Video - 'Shock Waves' Filmed by Don Gurnett at Coralville Reservoir on 6/91.

Procedure:

See also: 3B45.13 in Oscillations/Acoustics.

Place the 10 inch cube tank on its side and put it into the 12 inch cube water tank.  Point the water hose down at the middle of the 10 inch cube and then adjust the height and water flow until a nice "laminar flow to hydraulic jump" boundary is formed.  You will be able to run this for up to 10 minutes before you need to empty the water tank.

Stick the Don Gurnett tape in the VCR and hit play.  Now in a digital format.

References:

  • James Hicks and Chris Chiaverina, "Catch the Wave", TPT, Vol. 28, #3, Mar. 1990, p. 167.
  • Y. Brechet and Z. Néda, "On the Cicular Hydrolic Jump", AJP, Vol. 67, #8, Aug. 1999, p. 723.
  • Gloria B. Lubkin, "Combustion in Two Dimensions Yields Fingering Instability", Physics Today, Vol. 52, #1, Jan. 1999, p. 19.
  • Jearl Walker, "The Amateur Scientist: Shock Front Phenomena and Other Oddities to Entertain a Bored Airline Passenger", Scientific American, Vol. 259, #3, Sept. 1988, p. 132.
  • Jearl Walker, "The Amateur Scientist: The Charm of Hydraulic Jumps, Starting with Those Observed in the Kitchen Sink", Scientific American, Vol. 244, #4, Apr. 1981, p. 176.
  • Jearl Walker, "2.29. Circular Water-Flow Pattern in a Sink", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 94.
  • Jearl Walker, "1.146. Playful to Tragic Examples of Explosive Expansion", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 70.