Dancing beads, which try to oscillate periodically while falling in a viscous fluid

Jakub Nowakowski
Maria L. Ekiel-Jezewska
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research
Polish Academy of Sciences
Pawinskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland


Dancing beads, which try to oscillate periodically while falling in a viscous fluid
Top and middle panels by M. L. Ekiel-Jezewska and Jakub Nowakowski. Bottom panel reproduced with permission from M. L. Ekiel-Jezewska, T. Gubiec, P. Szymczak, Stokesian dynamics of close particles, Phys. Fluids, 20, 063102 (2008). Copyright 2008. AIP Publishing LLC.

In observations (top), experiments (middle) and theory (bottom), a similar evolution of the beads’ relative positions takes place. The configurations at time T/6 are almost the mirror images of the ones at time equal zero (the mirror is vertical), except a permutation of particles. Therefore, periodic motions with the period T exist. In experiments, they are unstable and usually break up after a bit longer than 1/6 of the period.


Usage Information

To use this Image, please contact: Maria L. Ekiel-Jezewska, mekiel@ippt.pan.pl

Contact Information

Maria L. Ekiel-Jezewska
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research
Polish Academy of Sciences
Pawinskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
mekiel@ippt.pan.pl
+48 826 12 81 ext. 227