This plane flew over when I was photographing something else and I managed a grab shot. What intrigued me was the spiral trails behind the propellers. I don't think this is worth a photographic critique but would love an explanation of how the trails are actually formed.
David
it's similar to how you see "fluffy" bits on aircraft when it's performing rapid manoeuvres in humid conditions do do with different air pressures over the wing tips.
here is the AI result of a a quick google search :
Propeller vortices on aircraft are caused by the same principle as wingtip vortices: a pressure imbalance between the high-pressure area on the underside of the propeller blade and the lower-pressure area on the upper side, leading to air spilling over the blade tips and forming rotating masses of air. Since a propeller is essentially a rotating wing, this pressure difference and air spillage at the tips generates these vortices
In simpler terms:
Lift and Pressure:
Just like a wing, a propeller blade is designed to create lift. This means there's higher pressure on the bottom surface of the blade and lower pressure on the top.
Spilling Over the Tips:
At the very ends of the propeller blades, this high-pressure air tries to flow to the low-pressure side, effectively "spilling" over the tip.
Vortex Formation:
This "spill" of air creates a swirling motion, forming a vortex – a circular flow of air that trails behind the propeller tip.
Factors influencing propeller vortices:
Humidity:
When there is a lot of humidity in the air, the water vapor can condense in the low-pressure core of the vortex, making it visible.
Comments
This plane flew over when I was photographing something else and I managed a grab shot. What intrigued me was the spiral trails behind the propellers. I don't think this is worth a photographic critique but would love an explanation of how the trails are actually formed.
David
it's similar to how you see "fluffy" bits on aircraft when it's performing rapid manoeuvres in humid conditions do do with different air pressures over the wing tips.
here is the AI result of a a quick google search :
Propeller vortices on aircraft are caused by the same principle as wingtip vortices: a pressure imbalance between the high-pressure area on the underside of the propeller blade and the lower-pressure area on the upper side, leading to air spilling over the blade tips and forming rotating masses of air. Since a propeller is essentially a rotating wing, this pressure difference and air spillage at the tips generates these vortices