Gallery

A Candle in Still Air

This schlieren image shows the plume of hot air rising from a lit candle in still air..

Shane Fitzgerald and Dr Jim Bales

A Candle in the Wind

The plume of hot air from a lit candle is disrupted by air currents

Shane Fitzgerald and Dr Jim Bales

A Sparker Seen in Schlieren

Sparks fly and hot air rises from a lit sparkler

Kim Vandiver and Harold Edgerton

Candle Wick

This Schlieren image of a lit candle in still air shows the edges (red and green) of the column of hot air rising from the candle. The colors on the top (blue) and bottom (yellow) of the wick show that it is colder than the air surrounding it.

Shane Fitzgerald and Dr Jim Bales

Hot Air Rising

K Vandiver and Edgerton

Lighting a Sparkler

A plume of hot air raises from a match as it lights a sparkler

Kim Vandiver and Harold Edgerton

Mach 2 Bullet and Candle

K Vandiver and Edgerton

Schlieren Ice Cube

In this schlieren image of an ice cube floating in an aquarium, we can see the plumes of cold water from the ice sinking.

K Vandiver and Edgerton

Schlieren Soap Bubble

The schlieren technique highlights the features on the surface of a soap bubble

Shane Fitzgerald and Dr Jim Bales

Spark and Shockwave in Water

K Vandiver and Edgerton

Tip Vortex from a Fan Blade

In this schlieren image a column of hot air from an alcohol lamp is caught in the tip vortex of a fan blade