How do you make a quiet (from splashing) waterfall

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To create a quiet waterfall, the focus is on achieving a smooth, laminar flow of water that minimizes splashing noise. Suggestions include using air bubbles from an aquarium air block to disrupt the water's surface, which may reduce the sound of water impact. There is skepticism about completely eliminating noise, as larger waterfalls inherently produce some sound. Additionally, the use of glycerine is proposed as a potential method to quiet the flow. Overall, achieving a visually appealing waterfall while minimizing noise remains a challenge.
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I am a designer (not engineer). I am trying to develop a quiet waterfall, or fountain. That is, that the water that falls into the pool, doesn't make a splashing noise. The falling water must fall into a pool of water, not onto a solid surface. Anyone have Ideas of how to make such a thing? Possibly adding something to the water, or some other Idea.
Thanks
 
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mgb_phys said:
Can you arrange that the water flows as a laminar flow (ie a smooth flow) into the water rather than droplets?

Somethign like this http://mad-laboratory.com/tag/laminar/

Thanks for the reply. I don't completely follow what laminar flow is, other than the drops don't separate, and flow in a solid form, nor do I have any Idea how to make a laminar flow happen. However I am quite sure that this is not the visual affect that I want from the fountain. The fall is to look more like the natural waterfall , with random flow.
 
Laminar flow just means smooth, like how a tap flows as a single unbroken stream of water before it breaks up into drops.
If you want it to look like a moving waterfall you could try breaking up the surface where the water hits the pool with air bubbles from something like an aquarium air block + pump.
You aren't going to make a large waterfall totally quiet though
 
mgb_phys said:
Laminar flow just means smooth, like how a tap flows as a single unbroken stream of water before it breaks up into drops.
If you want it to look like a moving waterfall you could try breaking up the surface where the water hits the pool with air bubbles from something like an aquarium air block + pump.
You aren't going to make a large waterfall totally quiet though
Why would air bubble in the water make it more quiet?
 
The idea is that the drops hititng a broken surface or water covered air bubbles would be quieter than the slap of a drop onto a flat surface.
Just a guess really.
 
It makes good sense. I'm wondering, too, if something like glycerine might help.
 

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