2012/10/12 by Jana, Saikat, Giarra, Matthew, Vlachos, Pavlos +1
#FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1210.3650
In this fluid dynamics video we investigate the flow field around straight-line swimming and right and left turning Paramecia using micro- particle image velocimetry (μPIV). A Paramecium controls its ciliary beating to produce different fluid velocities on either side of its body. This phenomenon is visualized by applying μPIV to images in which Paramecia swim in a dilute suspension of 1 μm polystyrene spheres. Paramecia that swim straight exhibit similar magnitudes of velocity on either side of their bodies. In contrast, right-turning Paramecia exhibit greater magnitudes of velocity on their right sides, while left-turning organisms show the opposite.