Impact of Solid Hydrophilic Spheres on Fluid Surfaces

The impact of solid spheres with water and vegetable oil surfaces was studied in order to show how solid-fluid impacts can differ when conditions of the experiment change. In the case of water, given the hydrophilicity of the spheres and the insufficient impact velocity, which would facilitate the formation of an air cavity, after impact, Worthington jets are formed and the heights of these jets were measured. Considering impact with sunflower oil, given the smaller density, smaller surface tension and larger viscosity, an air cavity forms behind the sphere. The velocities of the spheres and the depth at which the cavity rupture appears were measured using an automated Matlab script.