Re:Ketchup is a non-Newtonian fluid
by surround on Sunday March 14, 2021 @06:09PM
(#26459857)
No, ketchup is shear-thinning, meaning it’s less solid when under stress.
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I wonder if these properties are used in analog devices... I recently learned that ovens had thermal switches based on wax (and expansion under heat).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_motor
If you've flown, you put your life in a wax motor's waxy hands: "Wax motors are used...to control fuel, hydraulic, and other oils critical to safe flight today in modern airplanes."
Melting / Solidifying wax is also the basis of old-school steam radiator thermostats.
Re:Ketchup is a non-Newtonian fluid
by 0xbadcafebee on Sunday March 14, 2021 @10:05PM
(#26461831)
And current-day car thermostats. If it fails, your engine overheats, and that's an expensive repair. If you ever see a high temp warning light on your car, you can take it out and test its functionality in a pot of hot water (or replace it for ~$20)
Also, was how the lunar rover handled cooling. Big block of wax used as a radiator. Well, not radiator exactly!
I don't think the LM used wax for thermal management, but the Lunar Roving Vehicle did, as a "thermal capacitor" [1]. That is, heat was stored in a block of wax while driving, and then radiated away between uses.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Roving_Vehicle#Wheels_an...
That’s what I said. Lunar rover.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilatant#Applications
I'd say that shear thickening fluids as used in traction control systems can be seen as an analog clutch.
ahh sadly the kevlar-fluid combo is already a thing.. i always thought it would be a fun thing to build
Even today the thermostatic valves you find on home heating radiators are actuated by wax.
The lock in a washing machine door works like that, which is why it takes two minutes to unlock.
I had assumed it was magnets!
magnetic wax