Why chocolate fountains defy the simple laws of gravity
In short: Ever wonder why chocolate flows in ribbons rather than falling in a straight line? This lecture explores the complex mathematical modeling of real-world fluids, from toothpaste to custard, to understand the physics of flow.
Professor Helen Wilson of University College London examines how applied mathematicians model complex fluids in various flow situations. While some applications are purely for fun, others have significant commercial importance.
The talk highlights 'scaling analysis' as a primary tool for solving these problems. By applying this method to a chocolate fountain, Wilson explains the specific mechanics that cause the liquid to behave the way it does instead of falling vertically.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Toothpaste, Custard and Chocolate: Mathematics Gets Messy
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