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Cited by 80Micro and Nano RoboticsBiomimetic flight and propulsion mechanismsRheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies

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Propulsive force measurements and flow behavior of undulatory swimmers at low Reynolds number

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Sznitman, J., Shen, X., Sznitman, R., Arratia, P. E.·2010·Physics of Fluids
DOI 10.1063/1.3529236
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Abstract

The swimming behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is investigated in aqueous solutions of increasing viscosity. Detailed flow dynamics associated with the nematode’s swimming motion as well as propulsive force and power are obtained using particle tracking and velocimetry methods. We find that C. elegans delivers propulsive thrusts on the order of a few nanonewtons. Such findings are supported by values obtained using resistive force theory; the ratio of normal to tangential drag coefficients is estimated to be approximately 1.4. Over the range of solutions investigated here, the flow properties remain largely independent of viscosity. Velocity magnitudes of the flow away from the nematode body decay rapidly within less than a body length and collapse onto a single master curve. Overall, our findings support that C. elegans is an attractive living model to study the coupling between small-scale propulsion and low Reynolds number hydrodynamics.

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  • Forward swimming and crawling in C. elegans are two extremes in a spectrum of behaviors, with intermediate waveforms revealed in appropriate intermediate media.

    “Recent results, however, demonstrated that forward swimming and crawling are two extremes in a spectrum of behaviors. Indeed the intermediate waveforms can be revealed by placing worms in appropriate intermediate media (Berri et al., 2009; Fang-Yen et al., 2010; Sznitman et al., 2010; Boyle et al., 2011).”

    From Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model (2012) · cites this paper as Sznitman et al., 2010

    The Experimental setup and fluids section studies swimming worms in liquids of varying viscosity, and the Summary and conclusions reports swimming kinematics across those liquids. Neither passage describes crawling and swimming as extremes of a spectrum or reports intermediate waveforms; searches for a gait transition and intermediate waveforms found no such passage in our copy. Page numbers are unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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References 48 · Cited by 80

Research works printed but not linked: 44

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Metadata

Authors
Sznitman, J., Shen, X., Sznitman, R., & Arratia, P. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Physics of Fluids
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Published
2010-12-01
Volume
22
Issue
12
ISSN
  • 1070-6631 (ISSN-L)
  • 1089-7666
DOI
10.1063/1.3529236
OpenAlex
W2047420743
Cited by
80
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
3.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Physics of Fluids (publishedVersion)
  • Scholarly Commons (University of Pennsylvania) (submittedVersion)
  • ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania) (submittedVersion)
  • BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (0954084)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Condensed Matter Physics › Micro and Nano Robotics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes › Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies
Keywords
Caenorhabditis elegans, undulatory swimming, low Reynolds number hydrodynamics, thrust, swimming power, viscous drag, resistive force theory, drag coefficient, flow field

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