Lloyd M. Trefethen

Lloyd M. Trefethen

Add surface tension to lede, have Coriolis force cross-linked point to specific section on that page (see comments on talk page)

← Previous revision Revision as of 12:00, 23 April 2026
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{{Short description|American expert in fluid dynamics}}
{{Short description|American expert in fluid dynamics}}
{{distinguish|Lloyd N. Trefethen}}
{{distinguish|Lloyd N. Trefethen}}
'''Lloyd MacGregor Trefethen''' (March 5, 1919 – November 6, 2001) was an American expert in [[fluid dynamics]] known for his invention of the [[heat pipe]] and his research on the [[Coriolis effect]] and [[Shuffling|card shuffling]]. He was for many years a professor of [[mechanical engineering]] at [[Tufts University]].
'''Lloyd MacGregor Trefethen''' (March 5, 1919 – November 6, 2001) was an American expert in [[fluid dynamics]] known for his invention of the [[heat pipe]] and his research on [[surface tension]], the [[Coriolis_force#Laboratory_testing_of_draining_water_under_atypical_conditions|Coriolis effect]], and [[Shuffling|card shuffling]]. He was for many years a professor of [[mechanical engineering]] at [[Tufts University]].


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
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==Contributions==
==Contributions==
Trefethen was known for his research on [[surface tension]] in liquid droplets, and he became one of the independent inventors of the [[heat pipe]]. In 1963 he produced an award-winning educational film, ''Surface Tension in Fluid Mechanics'', for [[Encyclopædia Britannica Films]].{{r|ded}}
Trefethen was known for his research on [[surface tension]] in liquid droplets, and he became one of the independent inventors of the [[heat pipe]]. In 1963 he produced an award-winning educational film, ''Surface Tension in Fluid Mechanics'', for [[Encyclopædia Britannica Films]].{{r|ded}}
Trefethen's contributions to fluid mechanics also included widely reported experiments on the folklore claims that the [[Coriolis force]] can cause the vortex in a drain to rotate in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres.{{r|ded}}{{ran|A}}
Trefethen's contributions to fluid mechanics also included widely reported experiments on the folklore claims that the [[Coriolis_force#Laboratory_testing_of_draining_water_under_atypical_conditions|Coriolis force]] can cause the vortex in a drain to rotate in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres.{{r|ded}}{{ran|A}}


Beyond fluid dynamics, Trefethen's publications include a paper with his son [[Lloyd N. Trefethen]] on the [[Gilbert–Shannon–Reeds model]], a mathematical model of [[shuffling]] playing cards. In contrast to earlier research suggesting that seven [[Shuffling#Riffle|riffles]] are needed to remove any patterns from an unshuffled deck of cards, Trefethen and Trefethen showed that, in their model of the problem, five riffles are enough.{{r|ball|tel}}{{ran|B}}
Beyond fluid dynamics, Trefethen's publications include a paper with his son [[Lloyd N. Trefethen]] on the [[Gilbert–Shannon–Reeds model]], a mathematical model of [[shuffling]] playing cards. In contrast to earlier research suggesting that seven [[Shuffling#Riffle|riffles]] are needed to remove any patterns from an unshuffled deck of cards, Trefethen and Trefethen showed that, in their model of the problem, five riffles are enough.{{r|ball|tel}}{{ran|B}}