Justin BakerMelbourne, Australia What forces are acting on a particle of fluid that makes it start spiralling or moving helically down a pipe instead of flowing smoothly? Phil Moreyvia email Last Word is New Scientist’s long-running series in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions, ranging from the minutiae of everyday life to absurd astronomical hypotheticals. To answer a question or ask a new one, email [email protected] answer this question – or ask a new one – email [email protected].
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