Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

NASA Experiment Examines Fluid Flow

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the would-you-like-fries-with-that dept.

scubacuda writes "A new NASA experiment might shed light on thixotropic objects (e.g. ketchup not coming out of the bottle easily) and the mysteries of sheer thinning. At present, fluid interactions on the molecular level is difficult to predict: there is no tight theory that accurately predicts how a new polymer "goop" might flow through a pipe without testing via experiments."

10 comments

  1. fluid flow..... by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 2, Insightful

    hmmmm, we know constants for the flow of water and carbon chains (petrol). The problem with 'goops' is that they contain solid particles, and their particles are different sizes. THis size difference is what makes 'goops' unpredictable. Now with constant sized objects, eg wheat, you can predict flow. The standard grain elivator pipe was just the size so that a certain amount of grains could form a 'bridge' like thing and clog the pipe. they found out that this was constant. So, they then did two things. They enlarged the pipes and put compressed air vents to blow the wheat through.

    Now thixotropic gels and materials are hard to model, but not impossible. It just takes a long time, due to the range of particle size, and the different bond strengths of the molecules in the gel.

    --
    Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
  2. holy shit by tswinzig · · Score: 0, Troll

    (e.g. ketchup not coming out of the bottle easily)

    They have to do an experiment to find out that ketchup is THICK?

    It'll come out when it's good and ready.

    --

    "And like that ... he's gone."
    1. Re:holy shit by Drakin · · Score: 1

      actually while it's thick, that's not the most common reason that it doesn't come out of the bottle.

      Most comon reason is people just turn the bottle upside down and expect it to dump out, but it gets a air lock and can't. Simply titlting the bottle at an angle gets ketchup flowing rather quickly.

  3. gooo by thorgil · · Score: 0, Troll

    mmmm... free goo.

    /Homer Simpson

    --
    Warning: This sig contains a small bug. ==> *
    1. Re:gooo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he he, I thought it was funny... If i had some mod points i'd mod ya up.

  4. If you use a knife, it to comes out faster by ObviousGuy · · Score: 0, Troll

    Blood, that is.

    Haha. Just kidding.

    No, I hate ketchup. It's too sweet for my taste. Gimme a big dollop or squirt of mustard anytime.

    Anyway, don't use ketchup, it ruins your burger or hot dog, whichever you may be eating. Try the onions instead.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  5. This could get interesting by 1WingedAngel · · Score: 1

    If they can figure out how this effect works, they may be able to recreate a liquid that they can selectively make solid (through electrical discharge, radiation and so on). Think of the theoretical possibilities. Crowd control, insulation, TV game shows.

    Tim
    ---
    Reminds me of Gak

  6. cellular automata by iamcadaver · · Score: 1

    Sound like a new project for Steven Wolfram. Same scenario too, can't predict the outcome till you get there, just computers can run the system faster than nature.

    --
    Before I part with'em: two pennies weigh ~4.996+/-0.014g, have a zinc core, and the face of Lincoln. You can keep 'em.
  7. Fluid Flow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder how fast fluid flows out of this little beastie?