A study of the dynamics of buoyant spheres at the air-water interface is presented by an interdisciplinary team. Their research reveals the intricate hydrodynamics involved in the formation of horizontal air cavities and the switching between floating and skipping. One of the team’s most important discoveries is that the spheres’ behavior becomes more erratic as their speed and pulling force increase. Additionally, they found that higher pulling angles lead to different air cavity lengths, wider skipping distance, and earlier water exit behavior.
The science behind skipping stones
