Oil in Alcohol

The elegant patterns formed by fluid droplets falling through a dissimilar liquid were first studied over a century ago.1 The emerging patterns are driven by hydrodynamic instabilities set up by velocity and density gradients between the liquids. We perform experiments using 3 mm droplets of naphthenic oil released from two heights (25 mm, 50 mm) into isopropyl alcohol. The oil is denser than and miscible in the alcohol (ρoil/ρal = 1.17), which results in the drop descending and eventually diffusing. Images are captured with a digital SLR camera looking at a black background through the tank of alcohol, which is lit from both sides. The difference in index of refraction between the oil and alcohol causes the edges of the oil droplet to appear brighter than the surrounding fluid.

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[Lettrebox]

Title seems misleading according to the description. This is oil in alcohol, not alcohol in oil....

[byusplashlab]

Thanks fixed

[xxtiaan]

I wish I looked so elegant when drowned in alchohol....

[BlitheringMystery]

Is this filmed in slow motion, or is this full speed?

[TTmodder]

Oh grow up already.

How is that shitty show even relevant to this?

[MrDirkheim]

(sub)SONIC RAINBOOM