← all shorts

Concept

boundary layer

A baseball with dimpled surface casts a shadow on a light background, symbolizing the boundary layer concept in fluid mechanics.

In fluid mechanics, the thin layer of fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface where the effects of viscosity are significant. The manipulation of this layer—such as through the dimples on a golf ball or the stitches on a baseball—drastically alters aerodynamic drag and trajectory.

Mentioned in 2 articles