Topic: Physics

Scientists at Drexel University discovered that certain liquids can behave like solids and fracture when stretched. This finding changes our understanding of fluid dynamics.

Liquids are known for flowing and changing shape easily, but what happens when they're stretched? Researchers at Drexel University found out that under the right conditions, some liquids can snap like solids and break apart. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about how liquids behave.

The study was led by Dr. Thamires Lima, an assistant research professor in Drexel's College of Engineering. She and her team were studying two simple liquids when they noticed something unusual. Instead of stretching and thinning like honey, the liquids suddenly snapped apart.

To understand what was happening, the researchers used a high-speed camera to capture the behavior. They found that the liquids were behaving like solids, elongating until they reached a critical stress point, then breaking suddenly in a process called brittle fracture.

This type of fracture had never been observed before in simple liquids. The team tested different liquids and found that viscosity, or a liquid's resistance to flow, plays a much larger role in its mechanical behavior than scientists previously believed.

The researchers also discovered that the critical stress point is 2 megaPascals, which is roughly the force you might feel if a laundry bag filled with 10 bricks snagged on your fingernail while falling.

This finding has important implications for fields such as hydraulics and 3D printing. It also opens up new ways of controlling liquids in applications ranging from blood flow in the body to industrial processes.

The study was published in Physical Review Letters and has been hailed as a fundamental change in our understanding of fluid dynamics.

Why It Matters

This discovery could lead to new technologies that improve our daily lives, such as more efficient ways to transport fluids or create materials with unique properties. It also highlights the importance of continued research and innovation in science and engineering.

Key Facts

• Scientists at Drexel University discovered that certain liquids can behave like solids and fracture when stretched.
• The critical stress point for this phenomenon is 2 megaPascals.
• Viscosity, or a liquid's resistance to flow, plays a much larger role in its mechanical behavior than scientists previously believed.
• This finding has important implications for fields such as hydraulics and 3D printing.
• The study was published in Physical Review Letters.

Key Terms

Viscosity

A liquid's resistance to flow, which affects its mechanical behavior.

Implications

This discovery could lead to new technologies that improve our daily lives, such as more efficient ways to transport fluids or create materials with unique properties. It also highlights the importance of continued research and innovation in science and engineering.