Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

How do I determine the duty cycle that I need for the stroboscopic effect?

Hi - this is difficult to determine in advance, the best approach is just to experiment with it. The frequency and duty cycle that give the best illusion will depend on a lot of factors including the speed and frequency of your water drops and what the rest of the lighting is like in the room. Very roughly speaking, if the duty cycle is too long then the drops will start to look blurry instead of "frozen" in midair. What works best will also depend on whether you are trying to film the effect or just observe it in person.