Understanding Fluid Dynamics in White Water Rafting
Since I moved to Colorado, white water rafting has become a huge part of my life. Maybe its the mountain air, or the fact that everyone is into sports, but I bet anyone $20 that you'll be involved in some sort of new outdoor sport after living here for more than three months. You will also meet a ton of people that are more into the sport than you ever expected. Because of my hobby, I've had the privilege to meet some of the best river guides in the United States, and pick their brains about how they identify good rapids. Quite surprisingly, the identification of awesome rapids to take trips on is not done with observation or intuition in the classical sense. It comes from a serious grasp of fluid dynamics. Fluid dynamics is the study of the physical forces involved when interacting with water. I was introduced to the concept by one of the expert guides I had the privilege to go on a private trip with. I asked how I could quickly learn how to read the river like they do, and