Physics of Tibetan Singing Bowls

1 July 2011 Last updated at 04:41 ET

By Jason PalmerScience and technology reporter, BBC News

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High-speed video of the bowls bears out how water begins its dazzling dance

Ceremonial Tibetan “singing bowls” are beginning to give up their secrets.

The water-filled bowls, when rubbed with a leather-wrapped mallet, exhibit a lively dance of water droplets as they emit a haunting sound.

Now slow-motion video has unveiled just what occurs in the bowls; droplets can actually bounce on the water’s surface.

report in the journal Nonlinearity mathematically analyses the effect and could shed light on other fluid processes, such as fuel injection.

to read more, go to:   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13972556