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Smoke Patterns

The patterns in smoke are studied by illuminating the smoke with a scanning laser. The laser shows the motion in a 2D plain that is easier to study than the 3D motion. The coils represent cross section of fluid vortexes created by the convection currents from the hot smoke rising in the cool air. The source of the smoke is a stick of burning incense.

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Filename: K19Laser-Smoke6353.jpg
Copyright: Ted Kinsman / Science Source Inc.
Image Size: 3000x5144 / 5.0MB; Convection heat smoke flow laser vortex vortexes green physics fluid fluids dynamics fluid dynamics
Contained in galleries: science

The patterns in smoke are studied by illuminating the smoke with a scanning laser. The laser shows the motion in a 2D plain that is easier to study than the 3D motion. The coils represent cross section of fluid vortexes created by the convection currents from the hot smoke rising in the cool air. The source of the smoke is a stick of burning incense.