High Viscocity flow in water

High Viscocity flow in water

This photo shows a few different flow phenomena. First is high viscosity laminar flow as the fluid enters the water, after that, gravitational instability combined with the fluid slowing down, causes the flow to fold and stretch. The stretching may also be an example of 3D viscous fingering too. It is also interesting to look at the very bottom of the flow. Here it looks like the flow kept some of its original shape from when it entered the water, causing a creater that turned the flow into a bell-like shape.

This photo was taken on a GoPro Hero 11. Blue Corn Syrup was then poured into the vase from a few inches above. The lighting was achieved by using a piece of semitransparent folder material as a divider in the vase with an LED light behind the vase. The original file was a video, and this is an exported screenshot from it when I thought the flow was the most interesting and in focus. Then, from Google Photos, I increased the contrast, used an AI unblur tool, and decreased the brightness.

Previous Post
Grace Halbleib
Next Post
Duncan Laird

2 Comments. Leave new

  • Grace Halbleib
    Sep 18, 2025 11:50

    Hi Dom, I love the swirl that’s to the top left of the pooling of the corn syrup. I know the image orientation was discussed in critique, I think it’s cool that the coordinate system is rotated – it offers an interesting perspective.

    Reply
  • Beck Hermann
    Sep 15, 2025 13:10

    Neutral Question: Are you happy with how the GoPro screenshot was exported? Is the video more cinematic, or simply a way to get the still?

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Beck Hermann Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.