English

Noun

vorticity ‎(countable and uncountable, plural vorticities)

1. (mathematics, fluid dynamics) A property of a fluid flow related to local angular rotation; defined as the curl of the flow's velocity field.
   • 2009 February 20, William M. Durham et al., “Disruption of Vertical Motility by Shear Triggers Formation of Thin Phytoplankton Layers”, in Science, volume 323, number 5917, DOI:10.1126/science.1167334, pages 1067-1070:

     This results from the vorticity component of shear, whereas elongated cells would further be affected by the rate of strain component.

   • 2013 March 1, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, page 114:

     An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.

See also

• vorticity on Wikipedia.Wikipedia