turbulence

turbulence
/terr"byeuh leuhns/, n.
1. the quality or state of being turbulent; violent disorder or commotion.
2. Hydraulics. the haphazard secondary motion caused by eddies within a moving fluid.
3. Meteorol. irregular motion of the atmosphere, as that indicated by gusts and lulls in the wind.
Also, turbulency.
[1590-1600; < LL turbulentia. See TURBULENT, -ENCE]

* * *

In fluid mechanics, a flow condition (see turbulent flow) in which local speed and pressure change unpredictably as an average flow is maintained.

Common examples are wind and water swirling around obstructions, or fast flow (Reynolds number greater than 2,100) of any sort. Eddies, vortices, and a reduction in drag are characteristics of turbulence. Lowered drag enables golf balls to travel farther than they would do otherwise, and the dimpled surface of golf balls is meant to encourage turbulence in the boundary layer. If swimsuits with rough surfaces help swimmers to move faster, as has been claimed, the same explanation may apply.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , / , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • TURBULENCE — Le mot turbulence fait songer à agitation, désordre, chaos. L’évolution spatiale ou temporelle de nombreux phénomènes est caractérisée par l’absence apparente d’ordre, la coexistence d’échelles très différentes, l’impossibilité d’une reproduction …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Turbulence — (engl.: Unruhe, Turbulenz) bezeichnet: Clear Air Turbulence, Luftturbulenzen in großen Höhen Turbulence (Film), ein US amerikanischer Actionfilm Turbulence 2, eine Fortsetzung von Turbulence Turbulence 3, ein dritter Teil von Turbulence… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Turbulence — Tur bu*lence, n. [L. turbulentia: cf. F. turbulebce.] The quality or state of being turbulent; a disturbed state; tumult; disorder; agitation. Shak. [1913 Webster] The years of . . . warfare and turbulence which ensued. Southey. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Turbulence — (Коксейде Бад,Бельгия) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: 8670 Коксейде Бад, Бель …   Каталог отелей

  • turbulence — index bluster (commotion), commotion, confusion (turmoil), disorder (lack of order), disturbance …   Law dictionary

  • turbulence — (n.) 1590s; see TURBULENT (Cf. turbulent) + ENCE (Cf. ence) …   Etymology dictionary

  • turbulence — *commotion, agitation, tumult, turmoil, confusion, convulsion, upheaval Analogous words: *din, uproar, babel, pandemonium: agitation, perturbation, disturbance (see corresponding verbs at DISCOMPOSE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • turbulence — ► NOUN 1) violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid. 2) conflict or confusion …   English terms dictionary

  • turbulence — [tʉr′byə ləns] n. [LL turbulentia] the condition or quality of being turbulent; specif., a) commotion or wild disorder b) violent, irregular motion or swirling agitation of water, air, gas, etc.: Also turbulency …   English World dictionary

  • Turbulence — In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a fluid regime characterized by chaotic, stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and… …   Wikipedia

  • Turbulence — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Turbulence (homonymie). Tourbillon et turbulences dans une rivière …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”