The Water Ring

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Tap Water on a Plate
Ordinary tap water flows from a kitchen faucet onto the back of a
dinner plate. At the impact point the water develops Radial Momentum, and
fans out as a very thin (low-pressure) layer. Eventually, the thin sheet
of radially-expanding water succumbs to surface friction and to
counter-pressure from the higher depth water ahead. As the water level
finally begins to rise, it decelerates even further and the process
self-reinforces; the level quickly experiences the hydraulic jump, visible
in the photo. The fluid dynamics are similar to those for radially
expanding air in the levitator demonstration. |

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