Leaves have formed the circumference of the circle

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    Circle Circumference
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SUMMARY

The phenomenon of leaves forming a circular pattern while revolving around a central point is primarily due to the interaction of air currents and centrifugal forces. When air flows past obstacles, it creates eddies that can lead to circular motion, similar to larger weather systems like typhoons and hurricanes. The balance between the centrifugal effect, which pushes leaves outward, and a ground air current that pulls them inward, results in a stable circular arrangement. This behavior is further explained by the Tea Leaf Paradox, highlighting the buoyancy of leaves in the air.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of fluid dynamics, particularly air flow and turbulence.
  • Familiarity with the Tea Leaf Paradox and its implications in fluid behavior.
  • Knowledge of centrifugal force and its effects in circular motion.
  • Basic concepts of meteorological phenomena like typhoons and hurricanes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of fluid dynamics, focusing on air flow and turbulence.
  • Study the Tea Leaf Paradox and its relevance to buoyancy in fluids.
  • Explore the mechanics of centrifugal force and its applications in circular motion.
  • Investigate meteorological phenomena, particularly the formation of cyclones and their dynamics.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for meteorologists, environmental scientists, and anyone interested in the dynamics of air currents and their effects on small objects like leaves.

aayushmittal
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Sometime in the afternoon or in evening i see some leaves caught in something like air current which i feel that there some thing more. The leaves (tiny fallen leaves and some dust particles) revolve around a center. It looks like the leaves have formed the circumference of the circle and they are revolving around some point on the ground. Please tell me why this happens. This cannot just be any air current. The circle is horizontal not vertical.
 
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It is quite common for air to have approximately circular currents. Typhoons and hurricanes, and cyclones in general, are the same thing on a much larger scale.
 
Look up "turbulence".

When air flows past a corner, for example, some of the flow will curl around creating eddies. You can also get different angled breezes adding up to some circular motion and groups of objects can funnel a breeze into a vortex. As long as there is a breeze, these motions can be sustained for quite a time.
 
There are two effects balancing each other out. There is centrifugal effect forcing the leaves apart, and there is a ground air current pulling the leaves towards the center. At a certain radius, these two effects balance out. The reason for the ground current towards the center is explained by the Tea Leaf Paradox. Note that in a fluid, leaves are near-buoyant, so centrifugal effect is relatively insignificant.
 

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