#drag reduction

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Drag Reduction Via Bubbles

To help reduce greenhouse emissions, businesses are exploring systems that reduce a container ship's drag by releasing bubbles beneath them. But how do bubbles reduce drag?  (Video and image credit: S. Di Georgio et al.)

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the return of party girl! gigi

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Disappearing Sea Ice Ridges

As blocks of sea ice shift and float, they can press together, forming ridges spaced every few hundred meters or so. A new study uses aerial observations from recent decades to show that these sea ridges are getting smaller in both size and number, a smoothing of Arctic topography that has many consequences. (Image credit: USGS; research credit: T. Krumpen et al.; via Eos) Read the full article

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Paris 2024: Swimsuit Tech

The aughts were an exciting time to watch competitive swimming. Records were falling left and right, especially in 2008 and 2009. The first wave of improvements came around 2000, with the introduction of full-body swimwear.  (Image credit: Getty Images; research credit: L. Foster et al.)Today kicks off our fluids-themed Olympics coverage. Stay tuned for more sports this week and next week. If that's not enough sports physics for you, check out what we wrote in previous years. Read the full article

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Paris 2024: Coordinating the Front-Crawl

Of all the swimming strokes humans have invented, none is faster or more efficient than the front-crawl. That's why all competitors use it in freestyle events, and why it's the only stroke that appears in races longer than 200 meters. But elite swimmers don't perform the front-crawl the same way in a sprint as they do in a longer race.  (Image credit: J. Chng; research credit: R. Carmigniani et al.) Find all of our current and past Olympics coverage here. Read the full article

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Paris 2024: Tennis Racket Physics

Like many sports that feature balls, spin plays a big role in tennis. By imparting a topspin or backspin to a tennis ball, players can alter the ball's trajectory after bounce and, using the Magnus effect to alter lift around the ball, change how it travels through the air.  (Image credit: C. Costello)Check out more of our ongoing and past Olympic coverage here. Read the full article

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Paris 2024: Triathlon Swimming

Unlike the swimming competition, Olympic triathletes complete their swim legs in open waters. There are no lane dividers and no rules against drafting off a fellow athlete. Curious to see how draft positioning could affect swimmers, researchers experimented with swimmer-shaped models in a water channel and a numerical simulation.  (Image credit: J. Romero; research credit: B. Bolan et al.) Join us all this week and next for more Olympics-themed stories. Read the full article

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Paris 2024: Cycling in Crosswinds

Wind plays a major role in cycling, since aerodynamic drag is the greatest force hampering a cyclist. In road racing, both individual cyclists and teams use tactics that vary based on the wind speed and direction. Crosswinds -- when the apparent wind comes from the side in the cyclist's point of view -- are some of the toughest conditions to deal with.  (Image credit: J. Dylag; research credit: C. Clanet et al.) Catch all of our ongoing Olympics coverage here. Read the full article