A Study of Splashes

The author describes a systematic photographic investigation of liquid splashes, using ultra-short electric-spark exposures to freeze rapid sequences. Experiments compare drops and solid spheres entering liquid, document surface coronets, bubble formation, sub-surface cavities, and two principal splash modes that depend on impact velocity and surface roughness. The narrative explains observational methods and apparatus, presents stepwise photographic series, discusses underlying fluid-mechanical principles, and traces transitions between smooth sheath-like and rough basket-like splashes. A concluding chapter and supplement analyze higher-velocity phenomena and offer interpretations linking observed forms to the dynamics of air, liquid inertia, and surface tension.