In researching Physics for Animators, I came across the Splash Lab at Utah State University. In the Splash Lab, students are encouraged to drop things in liquids and photograph them in extreme slow motion. Watching videos like the one below can go a long way towards gaining an understanding of how liquid behaves during a splash.
I was inspired to create my own slow-motion video using my JVC PX100 video camera, which shoots up to 1/10 speed at smaller-than-HD sizes. Below is my 1/5 speed video of an ice cube dropping into a glass of water.
The amount of detail I can see just from this simple exercise is inspiring. Now I’m tempted to drop, smash, and clunk all kinds of things in slow motion in the name of science.
Want to see something specific in slow motion? Send me a note on the Questions page and I’ll try and make it.
