[Sweaburg]

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water is attracted to itself. amazing I know. water is also attracted to edges. so there is going to be water falling from the edge of the faucet. but as it falls, it becomes attracted to the other water, thus it meets.



Melch (wacki isn't the only scientist on these forums)

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I'm going to go with this one as being closest to the actual answer.

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I would agree with this too.. Also note that when water comes out of the faucet it passes through an aerator.. This is what i think makes it wider at the top to begin with. Notice that if you saw water coming out of an open pipe or a hose, i don't think this same phenomenon occurs.

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That aerator idea sounded good but I just took the aerator off my faucet and saw the same effect.(I know I know, turn down the nerd but this is more interesting than the research I am doing)

Also if the water is attracted (ie wants to stick) to the edges of the tap wouldn't that mean less water flowing from the edges?

Does it have anything to do with the velocity profile across the stream? The water in the middle of the faucet is travelling faster if I remember correctly.