Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Crossover from hydrodynamics to the kinetic regime in confined nanoflows
C Lissandrello1, V Yakhot, K L Ekinci
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Abstract:
We present an experimental study of a confined nanoflow, which is generated by a sphere oscillating in the proximity of a flat solid wall in a simple fluid. Varying the oscillation frequency, the confining length scale, and the fluid mean free path over a broad range provides a detailed map of the flow. We use this experimental map to construct a scaling function, which describes the nanoflow in the entire parameter space, including both the hydrodynamic and the kinetic regimes. Our scaling function unifies previous theories based on the slip boundary condition and the effective viscosity.
Related Concept Videos
Bernoulli's Equation for Flow Along a Streamline
Couette Flow
Capillarity in Fluid
Surface tension is crucial to capillarity. It results from cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the liquid-air boundary, forming a skin that resists external forces. When the capillary tube...
Bernoulli's Equation for Flow Normal to a Streamline
The pressure difference depends on the fluid's velocity and radius of curvature. The pressure variation is minimal in flows with nearly straight streamlines. However, the...
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Laminar and Turbulent Flow

