Comparison of cavitation in two liquids through sudden acceleration

When forced to suddenly accelerate, liquids have a tendency to undergo cavitation, which can prove to be catastrophic for the liquid’s container. Whether this cavitation will occur or not can be determined using a formula which takes into account the acceleration of the container as well as the vapor pressure of the liquid, density, and fill height. In this project we investigate the dependence of cavitation on the viscosity of the liquid. To do this, the cavitation that is produced in deionized water and fructose corn syrup is compared. A free falling weight which strikes the container is used to induce cavitation by sudden acceleration. A high speed camera records the created void(s) in the container. From these recordings the size and number of the bubbles induced in the two liquids are compared. We then attempt to find the relationship between the viscosity and cavitation.