Beer Magic

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I just discovered an odd physics trait while pouring a cold beverage. I was filling my mug with two bottles simultaneously so that the two streams touched each other while pouring. I noticed the streams separated again about an inch lower down. The surface tension must have been broken so what caused the re-separation?

 

[HamburgerBoy]

You mean like this, but with two beer bottles 180 to each other, with the streams crossing?

I would assume that despite the two combining at the point of contact, there is still independent momentum in the beer molecules of each stream and that they continue along their merry way.

 

[pelov]

If I had to guess...

It's because the hydrogen bonds couldn't overcome the diagonal force of the pouring. So although it looked like one seamless stream it was actually just crossing over of the two streams and it reappeared about an inch down. That's if I'm understanding this scenario correctly.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

I am guessing it has to do with the kinetic energy of each liquid particle keeping the particle moving in whatever direction it was moving until the energy is dissipated. The path taken by the particle is determined by how it leaves the bottle, and when a stream of the particles "touches" another stream, they don't just adopt the path of that other stream, though those particles that make contact have their velocities altered as momentum transfer between the particles occurs.

So you might just be seeing an illusion of one stream when in reality its still 2?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The problem is when the streams separate again, they curve towards the sides of the mug. The only way Hamburgerboy'sand pelov's scenarios would work is if the molecules were bouncing off each other. Doesn't seem reasonable given they have the same energy levels.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

If you use the same pouring setup, but this time only pour one bottle at a time, for each bottle. Does the curving still occur? If you then pour both at the same time, does the curving now seem like the superposition of the two streams from individual pouring?

 

[sjwaste]

 

[paulney]

It's all cool as long as penises don't cross. Err, I mean streams of beer! Black and tan ftw!

 

[Squisher]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyaLZHiJJnE

 

[pelov]

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

If you use the same pouring setup, but this time only pour one bottle at a time, for each bottle. Does the curving still occur? If you then pour both at the same time, does the curving now seem like the superposition of the two streams from individual pouring?

No, it doesn't. The streams curve towards the sides of the glass in a manner that couldn't be achieved pouring from one bottle.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

There is only one thing left then.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

If my liver holds out, I'll try to test three simultaneous streams.

 

[waggy]

no real beer magic is a never ending mug

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

no real beer magic is a never ending mug

I mastered that long ago. Why do you think I brew my own?

 

[Crono]

 

[waggy]

I mastered that long ago. Why do you think I brew my own?

I thought about that. I just don't drink enough beer to justify it.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Here's my paint diagram of what I'm talking about.

 

[sjwaste]

I don't know, but I just poured a Sam Summer Ale since I'm out of Allagash White. I will contemplate this on my refill.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you're noticing things like that when pouring a beer it's natures way of telling you that you've had either too much beer or not enough beer. Whichever, it's proof that you have not had the proper amount. So drink more and hope for the best.

 

[pelov]

Sorry, but I don't trust the legitimacy of a diagram drawn by a guy who's pouring himself 2 beers at a time.

 

[Printer Bandit]

was expecting frozen beer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5Ebig4g3ho

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

If you're noticing things like that when pouring a beer it's natures way of telling you that you've had either too much beer or not enough beer. Whichever, it's proof that you have not had the proper amount. So drink more and hope for the best.

Sorry, but I don't trust the legitimacy of a diagram drawn by a guy who's pouring himself 2 beers at a time.

That's why I'm going for three next. :sneaky: