Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2006
Using identical equipment, an attempt was made to reproduce the unexpected flow reversals obtained by Sibulkin (1962) in his study of the vortex motion associated with draining a liquid from a vessel through an orifice in its bottom. Reversal of the initial direction of rotation was found only for counter-clockwise filling with large initial heads and settling times, unless during settling or draining of the vessel a shock was applied to the system, in which case the tendency to reversal was generally more pronounced with clockwise filling. Re-reversal of the motion was also observed in a number of cases. An alternative explanation is proposed, based on a consideration of the surface waves generated by a shock.