Purcell’s “rotator”: mechanical rotation at low Reynolds number

R. Dreyfus (), J. Baudry () and H. A. Stone ()

The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, 2005, vol. 47, issue 1, 161-164

Abstract: An object consisting of three spheres, linked like the spokes on a wheel, can undergo a net rotational movement when the relative positions of the spheres proceed through a four-step cycle. This rotational motion is the analogue of the two-hinged swimmer originally proposed by Purcell (1977), which has served as a prototype for mechanical implementations of swimming. We also note that the rotational motion analysed here may be useful in the design of micromachines and has similarities to molecular-scale rotational motors that have been identified recently. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2005

Date: 2005
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DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2005-00302-5

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