A transparent rock experiment shows how stretchy molecules kick up eddies.
For most fluids, an increase in pressure should lead to a burst of speed, like squeezing ketchup from a tube. But when flowing through porous materials such as soil or sedimentary rock, certain liquids slow down under pressure. Pinpointing the cause of this slowing would benefit industries such as environmental clean-up and oil extraction, where pumping one liquid into the ground forces another out; however, such movement is challenging to observe directly.
The fluids of interest, called polymer solutions, are dissolved versions of large stretchy molecule chains common in biology as well as the cosmetics and energy industries. Theoretical studies have suggested that when the chains stretch through a nearly flat channel and then recoil, they generate forces that stir up eddies. But whether that turbulence “arises in realistic 3-D soils, sediments and porous rocks has been hotly debated,” Datta says.
The scientists laced the polymer with fluorescent chips and tracked its movement through the pores under a microscope, recording patchy regions of eddies and measuring how the solution flowed under differing pressure. This confirmed that the macroscale slowing had its microscopic origins where researchers had suspected: polymer chains stretching out and then coiling back as they passed through pores. The findings appeared in Science Advances.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Juwan Howard Shows Why Handshake Lines MatterI rarely disagree with anything the legendary sports broadcaster and basketball coach Dick Vitale has to say. But I do think he was wrong with his Twitter post suggesting that the postgame handshake should be a thing of the past.
Consulte Mais informação »
What counts as a war crime and why they're so hard to prosecuteThe war crime allegations against Russia and Putin over the war in Ukraine are mounting.
Consulte Mais informação »
Why I’m Prioritizing My Black Queer Friendships Through TherapyJust like in romantic partnerships, we have to move with intention and care when it comes to platonic relationships. One of the ways we can meaningfully invest in our friendships is through therapy. Here, we unpack how Black friendships specifically can thrive using this mindset.
Consulte Mais informação »
Why space lettuce could be the pharmacy astronauts needA plant that’s been genetically modified to produce medicine could be grown and harvested in space, researchers propose.
Consulte Mais informação »
Why Pam Grier’s Jackie Brown Is Quentin Tarantino’s Most Important CharacterJackie Brown both inhabits and subverts the traditional Tarantino protagonist through the historical reflexivity of Pam Grier’s performance.
Consulte Mais informação »