In a kitchen or in a bathroom, the number of times we turn a tap every day is
countless. So is the number of times we watch the liquid stream impacting the sink.
The circular flow pattern where the fast and shallow water film diverging from the
impact point changes into a deeper, bubbling flow is too familiar to deserve
attention. Very few people looking at the circular, bubbling pattern – referred to as a
hydraulic jump by hydraulics specialists – are aware that they are contemplating a
shock wave.