Laminar and turbulent flow

Laminar (front) and turbulent (sides) flow over a submarine.

Flow in streams can be laminar or turbulent.

The Reynolds number is used to predict the type of flow.

Laminar flow

Slow moving laminar flow in the Darling River, Australia.

Flow velocity is higher the further you get from the shore.

Laminar flow, sometimes known as streamline flow, is when a fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between the layers.
- from Wikipedia Laminar_flow, 16:31, 28 February 2006

Turbulent flow in the Yellowstone River.

Turbulent flow in small mountain stream.

Turbulent flow is characterized by rapid changes in the velocity of the water movement.

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