Turbulence

In fluid dynamics Turbulence or Turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and pressure and velocity variation with time. Flow that is not turbulent is called laminar flow. The (dimensionless) Reynolds number characterizes whether flow conditions lead to laminar or turbulent flow.

If you consider the flow of water over a simple smooth object, such as a sphere, at very low speeds the flow is laminar; i.e. the flow is smooth, and the drag is realtively low. As the speed increases, at some point the transition is made to turbulent ('chaotic') flow, where there is a large increase in drag, and often vortices behind the object. The same transition occurs if you gradually increase the size of the object or the viscosity of the fluid.

Table of contents

1 Examples of turbulence
2 See also
3 External Links

Examples of turbulence

A faucet goes from

Off. No flow
Drip. Which would be modeled as a free boundary problem
Laminar flow. A smooth and regular flow which looks somewhat solid because the flow maintains a fixed shape. In this regime, the water acts as a transparent lens.
Turbulent flow. At a certain point the water will start to break up. The water no long stays contained in a stable region is space. The stream ceases to be transparent, due to the extreme convolution of the surface of the fluid.

A drop of cream in a cup of coffee.
Smoke from a smokey candle.

According to an apocryphal story, Werner Heisenberg was asked what he would ask God, given the opportunity. His reply was: "When I meet God, I am going to ask him two questions: Why relativity? And why turbulence? I really believe he will have an answer for the first."