Smoke ring

For other uses, see smoke ring (disambiguation).
Smoke ring from a smoke chamber.
Smoke rings are also emitted by various types of weapons.

A smoke ring is a visible vortex ring formed by smoke in a clear atmosphere.

Smokers may blow smoke rings from the mouth, intentionally or accidentally. Smoke rings may also be formed by sudden bursts of fire (such as lighting and immediately putting out a cigarette lighter), by shaking a smoke source (such as an incense stick) up and down, by firing certain types of artillery, or by the use of special devices, such as vortex ring toys. The head of a mushroom cloud is a large smoke ring.

A smoke ring is commonly formed when a puff of smoke is suddenly injected into clear air, especially through a narrow opening. The outer parts of the puff are slowed down by the still air (or by edges of the opening) relative to the central part, imparting it the characteristic poloidal flow pattern.

The smoke makes the ring visible, but does not significantly affect the flow. The same phenomenon occurs with any fluid, creating vortex rings which are invisible but otherwise entirely similar to smoke rings.

When blown in still air, a smoke ring usually travels roughly straight from the opening over a surprisingly large distance, maintaining its round, o-ring shape, until dispersed by turbulence or other interference.

Smoking and breathing

Man blowing smoke rings.

A smoker may create rings by taking smoke into his mouth and expelling it with a tongue flick, by closing the jaw, tapping the cheek, or producing a sudden burst of air with the lungs and throat. The smoker may also use any of those methods to blow into a cloud of smoke outside his mouth.

A trick often performed in conjunction with mouth-blown smoke rings is the French inhale.

It is also possible to create a vapour ring by using the same techniques on a cold day with only one's breath.

The most famous such steam rings were those produced during the mid-20th century by Douglas Leigh's billboard on the Hotel Claridge in New York City's Times Square, advertising Camel cigarettes. An automated steam chamber behind the billboard produced puffs of steam every four seconds, giving the appearance of smoke rings leaving the smoker's open mouth and drifting away. Inspired by a WWII-era prohibition on lighted advertising, the Camel smoker remained a Times Square landmark long afterward.[1]

Some users of electronic cigarettes modify their devices to inhale large amounts of vapour at once, to exhale "clouds" in patterns like smoke rings.[2]

Volcanoes

Under particular conditions, some volcanic vents can produce large visible smoke rings.[3] Though a rare phenomenon, several volcanoes have been observed emitting massive vortex rings of steam and gas:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://theoldmotor.com/?p=11354
  2. ↑ Jilian Mincer (1 May 2015). "As youth vaping rises, teens cite the allure of tricks". Reuters.
  3. ↑ http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/photoglossary/smoke_ring.html Illustrated Volcano Glossary
  4. ↑ Etna hoops it up BBC News, 2003-03-31.
  5. ↑ Etna 2000 Stromboli Online, 2009-03-12.
  6. ↑ http://video.it.msn.com/watch/video/miracolo-etna-dal-cratere-anelli-di-fumo-perfetti/168go5fdp Smoke rings of Mount Etna video
  7. ↑ http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/fr/photos/stromboli/0606/smokerings.html
  8. ↑ Iceland Volcano Blows Spectacular Smoke Ring: Big Pics Discovery News, 2010-05-10.
  9. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7498695/Iceland-volcano-eruption-volcanic-activity-in-the-land-of-fire-and-ice.html?image=11
  10. ↑ http://earth-of-fire.over-blog.com/article-les-volcans-fument-la-pipe-formation-de-vortex-toroidal-69760899.html
  11. ↑ http://skagwaydelta.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/pacaya-volcano-blows-a-smoke-ring-in-farewell-guatemala-2005/
  12. ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/31220278@N05/3880927815/
  13. ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelyvers/6890803977/
  14. ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_step/8510876313//
  15. ↑ http://touch.metrotvnews.com/read/2014/09/11/290353#.VBJpsmYxW2c/
  16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNIKDrUO29Y

External links

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