07 January 2009

Most powerful laser in the world



Assembly of the current world's most powerful laser, the OMEGA EP at the Univ. of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The laser is capable of producing pulses of light in excess of 1 Petawatt (10^15 watts) for laser fusion research.



Presidetial escort vehicles



Presidetial escort vehicles



A pool filled with non-newtonian fluid



A non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose flow properties are not described by a single constant value of viscosity. Many polymer solutions and molten polymers are non-Newtonian fluids, as are many commonly found substances such as ketchup, starch suspensions, paint, blood and shampoo. In a Newtonian fluid, the relation between the shear stress and the strain rate is linear, the constant of proportionality being the coefficient of viscosity. In a non-Newtonian fluid, the relation between the shear stress and the strain rate is nonlinear, and can even be time-dependent. Therefore a constant coefficient of viscosity can not be defined. A ratio between shear stress and rate of strain (or shear-dependent viscosity) can be defined, this concept being more useful for fluids without time-dependent behavior. In this video they filled a pool with a mix of cornstarch and water made on a concrete mixer truck. It becomes a non-newtonian fluid. When stress is applied to the liquid it exhibits properties of a solid.

More info about non-newtonian fluids: Wikipedia



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