Hydraulic Jump Facts For Kids
A hydraulic jump is a sudden change in water flow from high velocity to lower velocity, characterized by an increase in water depth and energy dissipation.
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Key Points
Photos of Hydraulic Jump
Figure 2: A common example of a hydraulic jump is the roughly circular stationary wave that forms around the central stream of water from a tap when it hits the flat surface of a sink. The jump is at the transition between the area where the circle appears still and where the turbulence is visible.
Figure 3: A tidal bore in Alaska showing a turbulent shock-wave-like front. At this point the water is relatively shallow and the fractional change in elevation is large.
Figure 4: An undular front on a tidal bore. At this point the water is relatively deep and the fractional change in elevation is small.
Figure 5: Series of roll waves moving down a spillway, where they terminate in a stationary hydraulic jump
Naturally occurring hydraulic jump observed on the Upper Spokane Falls north channel
Illustration of behaviour in a hydraulic jump
Burdekin Dam on the Burdekin River in Queensland, Australia showing pronounced hydraulic jump induced by down-stream obstructions and a gradient change
Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River showing a pronounced hydraulic jump
Supercritical flow down the Cleveland Dam spillway at the head of the Capilano River in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada