Rayleigh-Bénard Onset
Convection cell formation at critical Rayleigh number Ra_c = 1708
Fluid Parameters
Rayleigh number Ra:
1708
Prandtl number Pr:
7.0
Number of rolls:
4
Animation speed:
1.0
Ra =
1708
Ra_c =
1708
Ra/Ra_c =
1.00
Amplitude ∝ √(Ra−Ra_c)
Convection:
onset
Ra = gαΔTd³/(νκ)
Ra < 1708: conduction only
Ra = 1708: onset (critical)
Ra > 1708: convection rolls
Color = temperature
Arrows = velocity field
Opt. roll ratio: λ/d ≈ 2.016