Vortex Vortex Turbulence Category="Aerodynamics"Category="Fluid dynamics"
This is an article on the real vortex phenomena. For other uses, see Vortex (disambiguation)

[image] A vortex is a spinning turbulent flow (or any Spiral whirling motion) with closed streamlines. The shape of media or mass rotating rapidly around a center forms a vortex. It is a flow involving rotation about an axis (not always oriented vertically though; sometimes possessing a horizontal axis).

Dynamics

A vortex can be any circular or rotary flow that possesses Vorticity.[1] Vorticity is a mathematical concept used in fluid dynamics. It can be related to the amount of "circulation" or "rotation" in a fluid. In Fluid dynamics, vorticity is the circulation per unit area at a point in the flow field. It is a vector quantity, whose direction is (roughly speaking) along the axis of the swirl. Also in fluid dynamics, the movement of a fluid can be said to be Vortical if the fluid moves around in a circle, or in a helix, or if it tends to spin around some axis. Such motion can also be called solenoidal. In the atmospheric sciences, vorticity is a property that characterizes large-scale rotation of air masses. Since the atmospheric circulation is nearly horizontal, the (3 dimensional) vorticity is nearly vertical, and it is common to use the vertical component as a scalar vorticity.

Mathematically, it is defined as,

ω = ∇ × u

where u = u, v, w } is the fluid velocity.

Observations

A vortex can be seen in the spiraling Motion of Air or Liquid around a Center of Rotation. Circular current of Water of conflicting tides form vortex shapes. Turbulent flow makes many vortices. A good example of a vortex is the atmospheric Phenomenon of a Whirlwind or a Tornado or Dust devil. This whirling air mass mostly takes the form of a Helix, Column, or Spiral. Tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms, usually spawned from squall lines and supercell thunderstorms, though they sometimes happen as a result of a hurricane.

A mesovortex is on the scale of a few miles (smaller than a hurricane but larger than a tornado). [2] On a much smaller scale, a vortex is usually formed as water goes down a drain, as in a Sink or a Toilet. This occurs in water as the revolving mass forms a Whirlpool. This whirlpool is caused by water flowing out of a small opening in the bottom of a Basin or Reservoir. This swirling flow structure within a region of fluid flow opens downward from the water Surface.

Instances

See also

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References and further reading

External links