Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Forcing and velocity correlations in a vibrated granular monolayer
Alexis Prevost1, David A Egolf, Jeffrey S Urbach
1Department of Physics, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 20057, USA. prevost@physics.georgetown.edu
We studied vertically shaken granular materials. Negative velocity correlations were observed with a flat plate, explained by a proposed mechanism supported by experiments and simulations. Positive correlations occurred with a rough plate.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Complex Systems
Background:
- Granular materials exhibit complex behaviors under external forcing.
- Understanding particle dynamics is crucial for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the effect of forcing on granular monolayer dynamics.
- Analyze velocity correlations and distributions under different plate conditions.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation of a vertically shaken granular monolayer.
- Molecular dynamics simulations.
- Utilizing flat and rough plates for forcing.
Main Results:
- Observed negative velocity correlations with a flat plate, proposing a supporting mechanism.
- Measured positive velocity correlations with a rough plate.
- Documented evolution of velocity distribution from Gaussian to broader with increasing density.
Conclusions:
- The dynamics are governed by a balance between stochastic forcing, interparticle collisions, and plate friction.
- Plate surface properties significantly influence granular material behavior.
- Proposed mechanism explains observed anticorrelations in shaken granular systems.
More Related Videos
11:51Visually Based Characterization of the Incipient Particle Motion in Regular Substrates: From Laminar to Turbulent Conditions
Published on: February 22, 2018
09:00Visualization of Failure and the Associated Grain-Scale Mechanical Behavior of Granular Soils under Shear using Synchrotron X-Ray Micro-Tomography
Published on: September 29, 2019
Related Concept Videos
First Law: Particles in One-dimensional Equilibrium
First Law: Particles in Two-dimensional Equilibrium
Newton's first law tells us about the...
Viscosity
The SI unit of viscosity is...
Frictional Forces on Flat Belts
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Velocity of an Object